The White House reached a tentative agreement with union leaders on taxing high-cost insurance plans, removing one of the major hurdles on the way to a final compromise on healthcare legislation.

AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka, Service Employees International Union President Andy Stern and United Auto Workers President Ron Gettelfinger met with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi a day after labor leaders met at the White House to protest the proposed new tax on ‘Cadillac’ health plans.

While the details are not available, it seems that the Obama administration has cut a backroom deal with union bosses to exempt union health plans from the new tax. Democrats and big unions have been allies for a long time, so these shady dealings come as no surprise. But for everyone else, be prepared to either pay higher taxes or choose a lower cost health plan. The culture of corruption is not only alive and well in Washington, but thriving in the Obama administration.