The version of the health care bill passed by the House of Representatives last night does not include a controversial provision that aimed to penalize non-union construction companies. The Merkley ammendment, added to the bill last fall, would have forced construction companies–and construction companies only–with more than 5 employees to offer employee health care plans. All other business were exempt from this rule until they reached 50 employees in size.
The Merkley ammendment was seen as a vote buying bit of graft to the unions from the Democrats and as a way to penalize right to work states and non-union companies.
