Ben Smith Blog
Political News and Analysis
Labor at the White House
By BEN SMITH
A dozen labor leaders, most of whom object strongly to parts of the pending health care legislation, met at the White House tonight with President Obama, in a meeting that seems to have been as much about a show of respect to the union chiefs as any changes to the Senate bill.
The leaders "laid out" their "standard lines" in opposition to the excise tax included in the bill, one person familiar with the meeting said. Obama "reaffirmed his position."
The White House issued a brief statement following the meeting:
The President and labor leaders had an exchange of views and had a productive discussion about their shared commitment to health reform that will lower health costs for American workers and their families, protect them from unfair insurance company practices, and enable employers to create jobs and raise wages.
Most of the union chiefs and their aides were being uncharacteristically tight-lipped about the gathering -- "Gag order," one emails, adding only that it was a "productive, good, frank" meeting.
What some are doing, though, is escalating their campaigns against the excise tax. Firefighters President Harold Schaitberger released a statement calling Obama's support for the measure a "huge disappointment." And unions continue to rally their members against the tax.
UPDATED with some more reporting from the meeting.