NPR’s ‘Morning Edition’ Examines Debate Over Health Benefits for Trade-Displaced Workers

As the Senate prepares to debate a bill authorizing presidential trade negotiating authority, NPR's "Morning Edition" reports on the debate over providing health benefits for American workers displaced by international trade (Schalch, "Morning Edition," NPR, 4/30). The Senate Finance Committee in February approved an amendment to the trade bill that would offer trade-displaced workers a 75% subsidy to purchase health insurance through COBRA -- the 1986 Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act, which allows unemployed workers to keep their employer-sponsored health coverage by paying 102% of the premiums. Republicans support extending health benefits to trade-displaced workers in the form of tax credits rather than subsidies (Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, 4/23). NPR reports that Republicans "worry about any step toward national health insurance," while labor unions "worry about a slippery slope" that could lead to an end to employer-sponsored health coverage (Schalch, "Morning Edition," NPR, 4/30). The full "Morning Edition" segment will be available online in RealPlayer after noon ET. An April 29 report on the trade bill debate from NPR's "All Things Considered" is available online (Schalch, "All Things Considered," NPR, 4/29).