Published: March 12, 2010

SEIU/1199 is turning up the pressure on members of the New York congressional delegation who are on the fence about health care reform, threatening to pull its support if they vote "no" and ask the labor-backed Working Families Party to do the same.

"(S)ome of our Democratic representatives in Congress have indicated they will not be supporting the interests of middle-class and working families on healthcare reform. They have decided not to support both the President and our Democratic leadership in Congress," the union said in a prepared statement.

"This is incredibly disappointing...1199 SEIU will re-evaluate candidates during this election year with close scrutiny on their measure of dedication to progressive issues critical to working families and their ability to move those issues forward."

"We cannot continue supporting incumbents who fail to vote with the President and Democratic leadership to advance the interests of working families on issues such as healthcare reform, financial industry regulation and immigration reform."

Additionally, as a major union affiliate in New York’s Working Families Party, we will present a proposal to the party at its executive committee meeting this Sunday to reassess its standards for endorsement and withdraw support for Democratic elected officials who refuse to vote with their leadership on issues of importance to working families."

Union sources said the main target of this effort is Rep. Mike McMahon (NY-13), who was once of three Democratic members of the delegation to vote "no" on the House health care bill back in November.

Another, Rep. Scott Murphy (NY-20), is also feeling the heat from the WFP and other pro-reform entities like Obama's Organizing for America.

Murphy is one of 16 undecided House members, according to the WFP, which plans on meeting with him Sunday.

The third "no" vote was cast by now-former Rep. Eric Massa (NY-29), who, as the entire world is all-too aware these days, is no longer a concern for the pro-reform lobby.

Also on the potential hit list are Reps. Dan Maffei (NY-25) and Mike Arcuri (NY-24), who voted "yes" last time around, but only after coming under enormous pressure from the labor community (some of which was operating remotely from Somos el Futuro in Puerto Rico at the time).

Rep. Bill Owens (NY-23) who was key to the passage of the House bill and cast his "yes" vote while his opponent, Doug Hoffman, was still questioning his special election win, could also come under pressure this time around if he doesn't toe the line.

All of these Democrats are being targeted by the NRCC, which is already roboing against at least two of them - McMahon and Arcuri - in advance of the final health care vote.

UPDATE: A McMahon spokeswoman emailed the following response:

"Congressman McMahon is proud to have earned the support of working men and women because of his commitment to issues such as the Employee Free Choice Act."

"But he is equally proud to have earned the support of his constituents in Brooklyn and Staten Island because of his political independence, ability to work across party lines to get results for his district and his commitment to protecting the jobs of our teachers, police officers, firefighters and hospital workers."

"He will continue to work with the Administration, as he did when he voted for the President's budget and the stimulus, and he won't be afraid to disagree either--as he did when he voted against the health care bill."