Big Labor might oppose ReidCare?

posted at 4:07 pm on December 16, 2009 by Karl

The SEIU skipped out on a pro-ReidCare event today, but there is likely both less and more than meets the eye at the HuffPo:

Two of the country’s largest labor groups, the SEIU and the AFL-CIO, are each holding emergency executive meetings today to discuss whether they should support the latest round of health care compromises made by Senate Democrats.

Though there’s no official word yet, early indications based on talks with various officials are that the groups will either formally oppose the legislation or, less dramatically, just not fight very hard to ensure its passage.

There is a big difference between not fighting hard and formally opposing a bill. Moreover, opposing Reid’s bill is not opposing ObamaCare in general. It may be nothing more than trying to get the tax on “Cadillac” health plans pulled from the Senate bill, or in a House-Senate conference.

That’s the “less” than meets the eye. The “more than meets the eye” is the possibility of longer-term consequences. Big Labor may try to leverage their anger into backing for card check legislation. Or they may threaten to stay home next year:

Another labor official warned that while labor leaders will likely grudgingly support the legislation, some may be bitter enough to sit out the midterm elections, dealing a blow to Democrats.

I would take that threat with a truckload of road salt, but it does raise the possibility of the “demoralized Democrats” problem becoming larger and more real than the current carping among the netroots.

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