For
Immediate Release
Contact: David Clough, 207-807-4900
Small Business Survey Shows Strong Opposition to Medicaid Expansion
NFIB members don’t support the
expansion and most believe it would lead to higher taxes
Augusta (March 10, 2014) – A new survey of small business
owners in Maine shows overwhelming opposition to the latest proposal to expand
Medicaid under the federal Affordable Care Act and more than 8 in 10 believe it
would lead to higher state taxes in the future.
“This
is a very one-sided response and it shows that small business owners don’t
believe that Medicaid Expansion will be a good deal for Maine,” said Director David Clough, Maine State Director
for the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB).
NFIB
surveyed its members last week on whether Maine should expand its Medicaid
program to cover people at 133 percent of the official poverty level. Only 10 percent of respondents support the
measure while more than 88 percent
opposed.
“Our
members don’t believe in expanding entitlement programs that are already
causing budget problems,” said Clough.
The federal promise of paying 100 percent for the first three years is
an enticement for trouble every year afterward, when the state has to pick up
10 percent of the cost. “Free now but
pay later is a formula for trouble,” said Clough.
Eighty
seven percent (87%) oppose expansion even with a sunset provision that would
automatically repeal the law in three years unless it is reauthorized by the
Legislature. Some of the members
commented the sunset was meaningless because politicians would not let 60,000
to 70,000 people lose this Medicaid benefit once it becomes law. Also, 93 percent of small business owners
believe that expansion will lead to higher state taxes within five years.
“Our
members are educated by experience,” said Clough. “It’s hard to think of a federal entitlement
program that hasn’t exceed the original cost projections. Small business owners aren’t buying the
argument that increasing Medicaid enrollment to nearly 390,000 will somehow
improve Maine’s long-term fiscal condition.”
To
learn more about NFIB please visit www.nfib.com.
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