RUSH: Pittsburgh. Diane. Great to have you on the EIB Network. Hello.
CALLER: Hi, Rush. It’s a pleasure to speak with you.
RUSH: Thank you very much.
CALLER: My husband is a member of the United Mine Workers, and I have positive proof that the unions will be the first to go to the national health care if it comes to be.
RUSH: Yes. I don’t have any doubt, and one of the reasons why is some of the union health care plans are facing insolvency, like much of businesses that get involved with unions. Their health care plans are in big, big trouble, and the governor taking it over would be a big boon. That’s what’s in it for the unions.
CALLER: Well, I have the coal wage agreement from 2007 between the United Mine Workers and my husband’s employer, and it states in Article 20, Section 13, page 209: ‘If the United States government enacts comprehensive health care, the United Mine Workers or the Bituminous Coal Operators can reopen the agreement for the purpose of negotiating modifications to let employer plan.’ Rush, they’re going to sell the union membership down the river. These people worked and fought hard for those employer benefits, for health care — and those health care benefits are excellent, and I’m frightened (voice breaks) that I’m going to be put on this national health care plan. (crying)
RUSH: A lot of people are. A lot of people don’t want it. A lot of people are scared because they know their health care can’t possibly be as good as it is now.
CALLER: Exactly. And I know, not just the UMW, but the AFL-CIO. All these union people that are out there fighting for the national health care they already have —
RUSH: Yeah.
CALLER: — good health care benefits don’t know what they’re getting into.
RUSH: No, the rank-and-file does not. But the public sector union leaders are going to score big on this, and Robert Gibbs says that what’s happening at the town halls is not ‘indicative of what’s happening in America.’