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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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State
Rep. Chris Sainato |
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Northwest Delegation urges senators, congressmen
not to tax employer-paid health insurance benefits
HARRISBURG, March 9 – State Rep. Chris Sainato, D-Lawrence/Beaver, chairman of the Northwest Democratic Delegation sent a letter, signed by the entire delegation, to Pennsylvania U.S. senators and congressmen urging immediate action to refrain from imposing any tax on employer-paid health insurance benefits.
"Our country has a long tradition of exempting employer-paid health insurance benefits from taxation," Sainato said. "This policy not only encourages employer-based coverage, but employees and bargaining units have also relied upon this exemption in sacrificing salary increases in exchange for good health benefits."
The letter, sent to U.S. Sens. Bob Casey and Arlen Specter and the 19 U.S. representatives that make up the Pennsylvania Delegation in Congress, asked the lawmakers to oppose the imposition of any tax on employer-paid health insurance benefits because it would be harmful to constituents.
In addition to the letter, Sainato, along with Reps. Nick Kotik, D-Allegheny, and John Pallone, D-Westmoreland, introduced a House resolution (H.R. 343) that would urge the Pennsylvania contingent in Congress not to consider taxing employer-paid health benefits as a way to help pay for health care reform because of the harm it would bring to working-class Pennsylvanians. Sainato said he is hopeful the resolution will soon be considered by the full House.
A copy of the delegation's letter follows.
