Catherwood LibraryILR School

Responding to the healthcare crisis facing millions of working Americans (see WIT's for March 5, Jan. 20 and 14, 2003, Sep. 6 and March 28, 2002, and Sep. 7, 2001), Democratic Representative Richard Gephardt has made legislation requiring all employers to provide federally subsidized health insurance the centerpiece of his presidential campaign. Under Mr. Gephardt's proposal President Bush's tax cuts would be repealed and put towards tax rebates reimbursing employers for 60 percent of the cost of providing health insurance in a system that would use existing private markets to ensure almost universal coverage. Mr. Gephardt presented his healthcare plan to the powerful healthcare union DC 1199 yesterday, and is seeking the endorsement of the AFL-CIO---which has made the healthcare crisis one of its top priorities---with a plan he hopes will also appeal to business lobbies.