Subject: Re: Memo on Cadillac Tax for HRC
From: "Ann O'Leary" <[email-masked]>
To: Jake Sullivan <[email-masked]>
Cc: H <[email-masked]>, John Podesta <[email-masked]>
Date: Sat, 26 Sep 2015 16:39:43 -0700

Very much agree. Let me check with Jen and Brian on whether to do this on
Meet the Press and then work up the right talking points.

Ann O’Leary
Sent from my iPhone
(510) 717-5518 (cell)

On Sep 26, 2015, at 4:19 PM, Jake Sullivan <[email-masked]>
wrote:

Your point on R version is key.  Our Bernie contrast rests on defending
ACA, so crucial to cast this as a fix and to be on the lookout for R
efforts to make this a Trojan Horse for broader dismantling of the ACA.

On Sep 26, 2015, at 7:17 PM, H <[email-masked]> wrote:

Given the politics now w bipartisan support including Schumer, I'll support
repeal w "sense of the Senate" that revenues would have to be found. I'd be
open to a range of options to do that. But we have to be careful that the R
version passes which begins the unraveling of the ACA.

On Sep 26, 2015, at 6:10 PM, Ann O'Leary <[email-masked]> wrote:

Madam Secretary -

I wanted to be sure you saw this memo on the Cadillac Tax.

In short, we are recommending that you call for repeal but go back to your
2008 position that workers over $250K not be exempt from paying taxes on
their health care. This will allow us to take in some revenue and show a
consistency of your position without harming middle class workers. It would
do little, however, to control health care consumption and costs.

There remains a divide among your advisors with the economic team
interested in you offering a "fix it" approach (Option 3) in the memo and
your political team very interested in you coming out for full repeal
because of the union implications (Option 1). Several of your advisors -
Neera and Chris, chief among them - offered this middle ground that Jake
and I thought could work (Option 2).

Subsequently, I've talked to Randi Weingarten who has been taking the pulse
of the unions in it. While she thinks they can live with the $250K
position, she thinks you don't gain much from it and feels the most
important thing is that you get out there not only offering empathy for
workers and the cost-shifting they are experiencing but you make clear that
this tax would mean health savings on the backs of workers and you won't do
it that way.

If you did come out for repeal, we would recommend coupling it with strong
delivery system reforms and making clear that Congress find a way to pay
fir it (we don't recommend having you offer the pay-for since they are
actively working on it I the Senate).

Because you are going on Meet the Press tomorrow, we wanted to check in on
whether you wanted to make your position clear on the show. Comms team
feels that only straight up repeal would make news.

Jake and John can weigh in further and we are happy to discuss.

Thanks,
Ann

Ann O’Leary
Sent from my iPhone
(510) 717-5518 (cell)

Begin forwarded message:

*From:* "Ann O'Leary" <[email-masked]>
*Date:* September 25, 2015 at 9:24:16 AM PDT
*To:* Dan Stein <[email-masked]>, Robert Russo <
[email-masked]>
*Cc:* Jake Sullivan <[email-masked]>,  Michael Shapiro <
[email-masked]>
*Subject:* *Memo on Cadillac Tax for HRC*

Dan & Rob -

Could you please get this memo to HRC today?

Thanks very much,
Ann

-- 
Ann O'Leary
Senior Policy Advisor
Hillary for America
Cell: 510-717-5518

<Cadillac Tax Memo - Sept 25 2015 FINAL.docx>