SEIU turns to tribes to pressure Baucus

[babylonsister]

SEIU turns to tribes to pressure Baucus
By Alexander Bolton
Posted: 06/20/09 12:58 PM


Labor officials are recruiting Native Americans in Montana to put pressure on Sen. Max Baucus (D-Mont.) to support a broad government-run health insurance plan as part of the Senate’s healthcare reform package.

Baucus, the chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, has been reluctant to embrace a broad public insurance option because Republicans strongly oppose it and he wants to attract broad GOP support for his package. Republicans charge that a widely available public option would lead to single-payer health care and “socialized” medicine.

Baucus has also felt pressure from business groups to find an alternative to a broad public insurance option.

Native Americans make up about 6 percent of Montana’s population, but they have taken on greater political significance in the past year. President Obama's campaign devoted significant resources to organizing tribal residents and the state became an unexpected battleground in last year’s presidential election.

Labor unions and Native Americans have rarely teamed up on broad national issues, such as the public health insurance option. Nevertheless, officials at one of the nation’s most politically powerful unions, the Service Employees International Union, have decided to launch a multi-front campaign to press Baucus, chairman of the Senate Finance Committee.

more...

http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/seiu-turns-to-tribes-to-pressure-baucus-2009-06-20.html

[The Magistrate]

1. Hopefully It Will Work, Ma'am: Baucus Is A Big Problem

These fellows from windy, empty places do not represent the country.

[babylonsister]

2. Yes, maybe his constituents will get his attention. nt