09/ 26/ 2007
Two Maryland members attended a roundtable discussion on health-care reform with President Bush
As Congress and presidential candidates discuss ideas for health-care reform, they continue to turn to small businesses to gain input and insight on the never-ending struggle to find--and provide--affordable health insurance.
Most recently, President Bush sought feedback and input from two NFIB members--Mike Kostinsky, owner of Sorrento of Arbutus, a family restaurant in Arbutus, Md., and Phyllis Burlage, owner and president of Millersville, Md.-based Burlage Associates. Also joining them at the roundtable were their employees: Lori Emmert, office manager with Burlage Associates, and Debra Couch, manager at Sorrento of Arbutus.
At the roundtable, President Bush touted the plan first presented during the State of the Union address that would make changes to the tax code to encourage families and individuals to buy health insurance. While the plan has been met with equal amounts of praise and criticism, overwhelming support for developing a comprehensive solution has taken center stage.
"Why can't they give us more of a deduction for our health insurance or more tax credits for providing it to employees?" Kostinsky told The Washington Post. "Then at the end of the year, it's not quite the burden of paying taxes and trying to make a profit and grow the business."
In a recently released member survey, small-business owners overwhelmingly reiterated the need for Congress to address ever-rising health-insurance costs. Respondents indicated that they favor equalizing the tax structure for those obtaining health insurance, regardless of whether an individual purchases health insurance through an employer-sponsored plan or on their own. These and other comprehensive ideas continue to gain support.
"I've got great employees, and they deserve the best compensation package I can give them," Burlage said. "But these premium increases are simply unsustainable in the long run. Something has got to give."
Exploring options that can provide affordable alternatives for both employers and their employees, such as tax incentives and pooling, can be significant first steps to addressing the dire health-care situation. We are continuing to up the ante and are working with leaders from all sides in order to explore affordable health-insurance reforms.
"Washington's leaders continue to put small business, and specifically NFIB's members, at the top of their lists when considering important health-insurance reform," says Dan Danner, NFIB executive vice president of public policy and political. "We won't rest until we have addressed the serious cost concerns of our members."
Find out more about the sensible health-care solutions NFIB is advocating on behalf of small business at www.NFIB.com/healthcaresolutions.
