ICYMI: Nationwide poll
shows voter support for lawmakers who vote to repeal “Cadillac Tax,” strong
skepticism of proponents’ claims
A new survey released last week by the American Benefits Council, a member of the Alliance to Fight the 40, found that American voters across the country agree that the so-called “Cadillac Tax” on employee benefits should be repealed.
James A. Klein, President of the American Benefits Council, highlights the key takeaways of the survey:
- “Today’s survey not only shows that those favoring repeal outnumber those favoring implementation by more than three to one, it also reveals deep skepticism that the tax will deliver on its purported benefits.”
- “Proponents have offered up two consistent arguments for implementing the tax: they say it will help fund the Affordable Care Act and it will lower health costs. But voters overwhelmingly reject the flawed assumptions behind both of these assertions, particularly the laugh-out-loud notion that employers will automatically raise wages as they reduce health benefits.”
- “There are two particularly noteworthy findings in this survey. First, we expected the public would see some positive and some negative consequences of the tax. But by wide margins voters conclude that the possible positive results of the Cadillac tax are the least likely to occur, and the negative consequences are most likely to occur.”
- “Additionally, despite the partisan debate regarding the Affordable Care Act, overall, there is remarkable agreement across the political spectrum that the Cadillac tax should be repealed. And voters in both Democratic and Republican districts report that they are more likely to vote to re-elect their Congressional representative if she/he votes to repeal the Cadillac tax.”
Read the key findings and topline results here.
The Alliance to Fight the 40 is a broad based coalition comprised of public and private sector employer organizations, consumer groups, patient advocates, unions, health care companies, businesses and other stakeholders that support employer-sponsored health coverage. This coverage is the backbone of our health care system and protects over 175 million Americans across the United States. The Alliance seeks to repeal the 40% tax on employee health benefits to ensure that employer-sponsored coverage remains an effective and affordable option for working Americans and their families.
For more information on the 40% Tax on Health Benefits, visit our website at www.fightthe40.com or follow us on Twitter @Fightthe40.
###
