Ni5: Perspectives

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You can't judge a bill by its cover story

Date: 2015-Jan-14 Author: Barry Shatzman

So... what are your thoughts about the Just Give All Your Money to the Rich Act?

What? You're not supporting it? But you don't even know what it would do?

Yeah... i hear you screaming at me... "Of course i know what it would do! I want that other bill. The one called the Save American Workers Act."

I gotta admit... it seems kinda hard to be against something that would save American workers. Problem is, whoever writes a bill can name it whatever they please.

Don't believe me? Last year Congress passed a bill that would extend the debt ceiling. Its name? An Act to designate the air route traffic control center located in Nashua, New Hampshire, as the Patricia Clark Boston Air Route Traffic Control Center. You think i'm making this up, don't you? Well lookee see.

Yeah, it was a procedural move to pass the bill quickly. But it makes the point, right?

So let's get back to the Save American Workers Act. You can read about it here, but the bottom line is that the Congressional Budget Office calculates that it would cost a million workers their employer-provided health insurance, and cost taxpayers about $5 billion a year. All while saving money for companies with more than 50 employees.

But here's something else. It's supported by organizations such as the National Restaurant Association, the Retail Industry Leaders Association and the National Federation of Independent Business. These are organizations that exist solely for the benefit of the companies that belong to them. So riddle me this... why exactly would they lobby for a bill that would make life harder for their members?

Of course you should think about this with any bill named something good (aren't they all?). As for the Save American Workers Act, i'm thinking of a much more appropriate name.