AFSCME President Lee Saunders praised the Inflation Reduction Act, a bill aligned with many of the priorities that AFSCME members throughout the country have been advocating for years.
It would, among other things, make unprecedented investments in clean energy, allow Medicare to negotiate drug prices and make corporations and the super wealthy pay their fair share of taxes. It would also fight inflation while enacting historic deficit reduction.
AFSCME President Lee Saunders called it “an economic game changer.”
“The Inflation Reduction Act would be more than just a shot in the arm against rising costs; it would be a historic step towards a better, more secure future for millions of Americans,” Saunders said in a press release.
The proposal, unveiled Wednesday, would, among other things:
- allow Medicare to negotiate drug prices and cap out-of-pocket costs to $2,000;
- lower health care premiums for millions of Americans who get their health care through the Affordable Care Act and extends ACA subsidies by three more years;
- lower energy costs and increase clean energy production, with the goal of reducing carbon emission by 40% by 2030;
- fight inflation by enacting historic deficit reduction;
- raise taxes on corporations and the super wealthy.
“This critical bill will finally allow Medicare to negotiate lower drug prices, meaning millions of families will no longer have to sacrifice groceries or rent for life-saving medicine,” Saunders said. “It means thousands of seniors will no longer be forced out of retirement to pay for their prescriptions. And the extension of Affordable Care Act subsidies means lower health insurance costs for 13 million Americans.”
“Passing this bill will also help create a sustainable future by investing in new technologies to mitigate the impact of climate change,” he added. “This will include creating thousands of jobs for energy projects right here in the United States and providing tax credits to encourage green investments. And this will all be paid for through a long-overdue increase in corporate taxes.”
AFSCME urges Congress to act quickly to pass this bill. A vote is expected next week.