NFIB Statement: President’s Remarks to NFIB’s Small Business Owners
CONTACT: Stephanie Cathcart, 202-314-2056 or stephanie.cathcart@nfib.org
WASHINGTON, D.C., Oct. 29, 2009 — Dan Danner, president and CEO of the National Federation of Independent Business, the nation’s leading small business association, issued the following statement following President Obama’s remarks to small business owners:
“The president today recognized the important role that small businesses can play in driving our nation's economic recovery. Small businesses are at a critical crossroads. As they look to the future, they are trying to determine whether the policies being debated in Washington, D.C. will help Main Street keep their doors open, and allow them to expand their business and hire new employees. They need commonsense solutions that will provide this much-needed growth, or we risk small business owners throwing in the towel.
“Small businesses are looking closely at the proposed legislative proposals being discussed -- because the details in these bills can make or break their livelihoods and the future of their employees.
“We hope the White House remains committed to helping small business better contain their unsustainable healthcare costs through a truly competitive marketplace. This means increasing competition in the private market by creating an exchange modeled on provisions under the SHOP legislation. This means real choice for individuals to choose the plan that best fit their needs. And, this means allowing national benefit plans to be purchased across state lines – something long supported by small business.
“We hope the White House will put their foot down when it comes to forcing small employers to provide something they already struggle to afford. We encourage them not to hide behind flexible (and often move-able) exemptions with job-killing contribution requirements and heavy penalties, as we’ve seen in the House bill.
“We hope the White House and Congress will remember that new public programs – however couched as a ‘consumer choice option’ or with ‘opt out’ ability – are still costs that will ultimately come out of small business owners’ pockets and prohibit them from growing, investing in their business and hiring new employees.
“We have said repeatedly that we remain committed to trying to support reform efforts that will provide more affordable and accessible healthcare options for small employers and their workers. No one needs reform more. But, in the end, small businesses’ support or opposition will rest on whether or not they are persuaded that costs will actually be reduced, and the quality of their healthcare will not be compromised.”
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