In response to the recent announcement that the NFL would not be partnering with HHS to promote the Obamacare healthcare law, an outfit called “Moms Rising” – a Big Labor front group (check out their policy priorities and lack of mailing address) – has begun circulating a petition to get the league to reconsider its decision.  As one “disgusted” Seattle Seahawks fan named Donna stated in an email to the pro-Obamacare group, “they [the NFL] should have the courage to stand up to this handful of elected officials and let them know people are more important than the petty politics of Congress.”  If anything “disgusts” this Seahawks fan, it should be the fact that individual health insurance premiums in the state of Washington will increase by 34 – 80 percent under Obamacare. Something for Donna and other Seattle fans to consider while watching Russell Wilson and company try to take the NFC by storm this season.

The Big Labor group sponsoring Moms Rising should join their fellow union groups in advocating for the abolishment of the detrimental healthcare law. In a joint letter to Congress signed by Jimmy Hoffa (President, Teamsters), Joseph Hansen (President, The United Food and Commercial Workers International Union), and D. Taylor (President, Union of Needletrades, Industrial, and Textile Employees- Hotel Employees and Restaurant Employees International Union), the leaders of three of the largest U.S. unions warned Democratic leaders the President’s healthcare law will “destroy the foundation of the 40 hour work week that is the backbone of the American middle class.” They went further to say :

“The unintended consequences of the ACA are severe… Perverse incentives are causing nightmare scenarios. First, the law creates an incentive for employers to keep employees’ work hours below 30 hours a week. Numerous employers have begun to cut workers’ hours to avoid this obligation, and many of them are doing so openly. The impact is two-fold: fewer hours means less pay while also losing our current health benefits.”

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, women make approximately 80 percent of the healthcare decisions for families. With that in mind, Ryan Ellis, Director of Tax Policy for Americans for Tax Reform, points out in his 2012 Daily Caller piece, “The Obamacare law contains 20 new or higher taxes. Many of these taxes fall on basic healthcare decisions. Thus, the Obamacare tax hikes on healthcare will disproportionately burden women.”  Two of the most detrimental tax hikes contained in the controversial healthcare law especially harm families with special needs children and families facing high out-of-pocket medical expenses . Even professional athletes from the major sports leagues HHS and the Obama administration want to use to promote Obamacare will incur higher tax rates.

Promoting Obamacare would be a personal foul against the fans and taxpayers who tune in to watch their favorite team and athletes each season.

ATR applauds the NFL for having the courage to stand up to the petty politics of the Obama administration.