Power Breakfast: Health reform vote, Kings, UPS, jobless, office leasing

There’s a key health care vote today in the Senate Finance Committee.

And much of the debate is focused on a proposed tax on high-cost or “Cadillac” health insurance plans to help pay for the uninsured, the New York Times is reporting.

The tax is one of the few remaining proposals under consideration by Congress that budget experts say could lead directly to a reduction in health care spending over the long term, by prompting employers and employees to buy cheaper insurance, the Times writes.

Supporters say that the tax is essential to tamping down medical spending and that over 10 years it would generate more than $200 billion, nearly a fourth of what is needed to pay for the legislation.

Critics say the tax would quickly spiral out of control and hit middle-class workers, people more closely associated with minivans than Cadillacs.

The Times points out that the debate on the tax is taking place in the House as well, and a resolution will be key to what happens with the overhaul.

In the AJC:

• King siblings reach settlement
• Jobless reluctantly leave metro Atlanta
• UPS adds carbon offsets to shipping menu
• Office leasing down in third quarter
• “Stimulus” signs gone from Georgia roadside
• Hands On Atlanta founders battled ‘greed is good’ philosophy
• Area apartments under new ownership
• Copper thefts hit AT&T

In other media:

• Cleansing the air at the expense of waterways
• Teachers benefit from stimulus spending
• Obama regulators flexing their muscles
• Forgoing vaccines can create risks for adults