The Obama government has decided to respond to labor union spokesmen concerned about how Obamacare will crush the middle class. In a move to hush their vocal dissent, offering special treatment to the unions in the form of access to subsidies originally intended for uninsured, low-income people.
However, it’s not clear what the White House can unilaterally do to address unions’ concerns. The text of the Affordable Care Act is straightforward; if you have gained coverage through an employer-sponsored health plan, you’re not eligible for subsidized coverage in the exchange, because you already get a subsidy through the tax code: you don’t pay income or payroll taxes on the value of your health coverage.