Union members: More equal than others in Obama's America

It's very clear that in Barack Obama's America, to quote George Orwell in "Animal Farm," some animals are more equal than others.

Such as union members.

The Obama-directed Chrysler bankruptcy put union claims ahead of those of secured creditors.

When California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger proposed pay cuts of unionized home health care workers to balance the state's budget last month, the White House threatened to withhold billions in stimulus funds.

Taxing worker health care benefits to pay for health care reform is an option that has been considered by members of both parties. Interestingly, Candidate Obama mocked John McCain last fall for making that suggestion.

Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-MT) wants to tax health care benefits.

But not for union members.

You can't make this stuff up. From the Washington Examiner:

The best chance for compromise legislation on health care may be a plan under construction in the Senate Finance Committee that would pay for a public plan in part by taxing some worker health benefits.

But the union workers who helped Democrats win Congress and the White House and whose support will be key in getting a health bill signed into law would not pay the tax.

With cost estimates already as high as $1.6 trillion, Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus, D-Mont., has proposed paying for the bill in part by taxing health care benefits for workers who earn more than $100,000, or $200,000 for married couples, according to those familiar with the discussions.

Union workers represent a paltry 12 percent of the workforce. That's it, 12 percent.

Baucus doesn't fact Montana voters until 2012. Raising money shouldn't be a problem for him, he can lean on his union cronies.

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