UAW chief to fight 'Cadillac tax'

Gettelfinger heads to Washington meetings on health care plan levy

David Shepardson / The Detroit News

Detroit -- United Auto Workers President Ron Gettelfinger told reporters he will be in meetings today and Thursday in Washington to fight the so-called "Cadillac tax" on more expensive employer-sponsored health care plans.

The Senate health care bill has a new tax on high-cost, employer-sponsored insurance policies, which has been dubbed the "Cadillac tax." The measure wasn't in the House version of the bill. Now, the two chambers are trying to reach a compromise.

President Barack Obama supports the 40 percent annual tax on individual health plans worth more than $8,500, and above $23,000 for families. "Our people are researching it now," Gettelfinger told reporters on the sidelines of the North American International Auto Show.

The White House defended the president's support of the tax.

Obama "supported the Senate bill and that provision was in that bill for what it does in terms of changing the direction of health care costs," White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said Monday.

The White House said the tax would raise nearly $150 billion in revenue over 10 years to help pay for health care reform.

Still, Gettelfinger says he wants the tax eliminated -- or at the very least an increase in the minimum level that would be taxed.

Obama met with union presidents Monday on the issue.

Gettelfinger skipped the meeting with Obama to attend the Detroit auto show and greet House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., as well as other key members of Congress and members of the president's Cabinet who attended the show. He is scheduled to meet with Pelosi in Washington today on the health care issue.

"(Obama) knows where we are at," Gettelfinger said. "We have open communication and open dialogue with him."