Last Thursday, U.S. Speaker Nancy Pelosi introduced the "Affordable Health Care for America Act," which by all accounts, does little to live up to its name. Especially if you're an employer.
For months now, AWB and many other state and national business organizations have advocated for more reasoned health care reform -- an effort that reduces costs, improves access to care and capitalizes on private sector innovations that improve wellness while reducing costs (see, for example, our post on the Safeway Healthy Measures program). Unfortunately, the current legislation is a step back from those goals. We've also led a coalition of businesses and chambers -- Employers for Quality Health Care -- that is identifying reform ideas that can be implemented without jeopardizing health care choices or incurring historic levels of debt.
The revised bill now being rushed through Congress ignores these concepts and ideas and will have significant negative impacts on businesses of all sizes and industries in our state and nation at a time they can least afford it. It will also send the national debt into unfathomable figures and dramatically expand government control of health care.
This morning, the U.S. Chamber, along with the NFIB, NAM and nine other business groups, launched a massive ad buy in 19 states aimed at stopping what the Wall Street Journal called "The Worst Bill Ever:"
Democrats have dumped any pretense of genuine bipartisan 'reform' and moved into the realm of pure power politics as they race against the unpopularity of their own agenda. The goal is to ram through whatever income-redistribution scheme they claim to be 'universal coverage.' The result will be destructive on every level -- for the health-care system, for the country's fiscal condition, and ultimately for American freedom and prosperity.
Perhaps most concerning is the uncanny price tag associated with the new proposal -- $1.2 trillion or more over 10 years according to the Congressional Budget Office.The bill also includes $572 billion in new taxes, mostly by imposing a 5.4 percentage-point surcharge on joint filers earning over $1 million or $500,000 for singles. Businesses would also have to yield 8 percent of their payroll to the federal government if they don't offer insurance or pay at least 72.5 percent of their workers' premiums, which would likely come out of wages.
What's more, the 1,990-page bill, H.R. 3962, is targeted for a speedy vote in the House, so that lawmakers can get home before the Veterans Day holiday. And once the bill is released to House members, they will have just 72 hours to digest and analyze the mammoth bill.
AWB is encouraging its members to call their Congressional representatives and encourage them to vote NO on this legislation. If you're not familiar with your Congressional district, you can identify your Congressional reps through the Washington State Legislature's Web site or the U.S. Chamber of Commerce's Web site. When you call or e-mail, tell your lawmakers:
- This bill includes one of the largest tax increases in the history of the country.
- Businesses are being targeted to bear the brunt of these costs, at a time they are fighting to keep their doors open -- and that will cost jobs.
- The public option will only drive private insurers out of the market and result in massive government expansion through nationalized care.
- This is NOT the kind of change voters want when it comes to their health care.
The association is also joining thousands of businesses and organizations in a letter to Congress urging defeat of this legislation and advocating for a more balanced, bipartisan approach to health care reform. We will post a link to that letter here, once it is finalized.
