Government-Run Health Care: A Disaster for Small Businesses
August 29, 2009
A message from Congressman John Boehner: A report in the Dayton Business Journal found that “[t]he affordability of offering health insurance ranks among the top issues on the minds of Ohio small business owners.” This is no surprise. As a former small businessman, I know how expensive it can be to provide health coverage for employees. The Republican health care solution will help fix this problem; the Democrats’ government takeover of health care would only make it worse.
THE DEMOCRATS’ GOVERNMENT TAKEOVER: A DISASTER FOR SMALL BUSINESSES.
In “a major blow to President Obama and his allies,” the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) – a coalition of small businesses – wrote an open letter to Congress opposing the Democrats’ health care takeover. Why? Because a government takeover would be a disaster for small businesses. NFIB argued it would limit choices and raise costs on small businesses (you can read their letter here). The Wall Street Journal says it would mean “fewer jobs.”
Bottom line: with Ohio’s unemployment rate now at 11.2 percent and the White House announcing an unprecedented $9 trillion deficit over the next ten years, the last thing we need is more jobs-killing legislation. We can lower health care costs and expand coverage without a costly, partisan government takeover.
A REPUBLICAN PLAN FOR HELPING SMALL BUSINESSES PROVIDE AFFORDABLE HEALTH COVERAGE.
The Republican health care solution that I support includes several reforms to lower costs and help small businesses provide affordable coverage by:
- Establishing small-business health plans which allow smaller firms to band together through associations and purchase quality health care — even across state lines — at a more affordable cost; and
- Providing small businesses tax credits to defray the administrative costs of providing health coverage for their employees.
Our plan also gives states incentives to reform their insurance markets so insurance companies are able to compete and increase employers’ and employees’ purchasing power. And it reins in the junk lawsuits that lead to defensive medicine and higher premiums.
NEWS YOU CAN USE.
Summer is quickly winding down and Congress will be back in Washington soon. Please don’t hesitate to let me know what’s on your mind and how the big issues of the day ought to be addressed. Thank you again for your continued support.
Sincerely,
John Boehner
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