COLLECTIVE BARGAINING: Campbell Slams GOP Peers for Delay
Rep. Tom Campbell (R-Calif.) chided Republicans on the House Rules Committee Friday for not allowing a vote on collective bargaining legislation that would have moved the measure to the chamber floor. His bill would suspend bargaining rules for physicians and allow them to collectively negotiate with HMOs and other insurance plans. Campbell charged that his colleagues delayed the vote to manipulate the legislative calendar and "extract extra cash from those interested in the bill," including managed care companies opposed to the bill and medical groups who support the plan. Campbell said that lawmakers wanted the delay so they could "milk both cows" (White, Washington Post, 5/27). But a committee spokesperson said the stay was because committee members "did not feel the bill was ready. There just wasn't the comfort level among the (GOP) Conference for moving forward" (Earle, CongressDaily, 5/26). The American Medical Association and other groups support the bill because it would add to their bargaining strength. But the insurance industry warns such a measure could drive up health care costs (Washington Post, 5/27).
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