AFL-CIO endorses health care bill

The AFL-CIO, the country’s largest federation of union workers, has endorsed the health care bill that Congress will vote on this Sunday.

The AFL-CIO, the country’s largest federation of union workers, has endorsed the health care bill that Congress will vote on this Sunday. The organization’s president, Richard Trumka, spoke in Philadelphia today at two rallies — one to support health care workers and another to bash Wall Street. Trumka says this bill is imperfect, but it’s the best option available.

Trumka: We would have liked to have seen a robust public option, which would have created even more immediate competition for insurance companies. We would have liked to have seen a different financing scheme to make it even more progresive. We think the people who caused the problem should pay to fix the problem and we would like to see an employer mandate.

House democrats are confident they have enough yeses to pass the bill, which the Senate had passed last year. A few democrats remain undecided, including Representative Jason Altmire from western Pennsylvania. Democrat John Adler from South Jersey held out on deciding until yesterday. He says he will vote no.