Andersonville, TN - January 17, 2010 - U.S. Congressional District 3 candidate Mark DeVol responds to President Obama's deal with Labor Unions.

Thursday, January 14, 2010, President Obama negotiated a closed-door deal with labor union lobbyists to exempt the excise tax on so called "Cadillac" healthcare plans. By exempting collectively bargained union contracts the healthcare program is now $59 billion short of its projected $149 billion in cost.

The President also negotiated to set aside $5 billion to subsidize the costs of healthcare benefits for union workers to retire at age 55 and to reserve most of the spending on public works construction projects for union labor.

To make-up for the $59 billion short fall, politicians in Congress were also successful in striking a deal with labor union lobbyists; requiring only small construction contractors to be exempt from employer mandates for businesses with less than 50 employees. Now only small businesses (in the construction industry) that have more than 4 employees will be required to provide healthcare benefits. 

For far too many of our elected officials have fallen prey to the notion that under the pretense of taking care of us, government has the authority to ignore the U.S. Constitution. The fact is the President of the United States and Congress do not have the constitutional authority to require (mandate) American citizens to purchase anything! Furthermore; Congress only has the authority to write laws the up-hold for Life, Liberty, and Property.

Mark DeVol TN-3