11/02/2007
CONTACT: Kevin Shivers, 717-232-8582 or 717-571-0009 (mobile)
or Jason Brewer, 202-406-4435
Small-business owners agree reducing costs, not raising taxes or mandates, key to real reform
HARRISBURG, Pa. -- Pennsylvania's premiere small-business group -- the National Federation of Independent Business -- today announced an exciting new partnership with AARP, the Business Roundtable and the Service Employees International Union to find broad-based solutions to Pennsylvania's health-care crisis. NFIB/Pennsylvania State Director Kevin Shivers explained the new "Divided We Fail" partnership during an appearance tonight on WITF-TV's Smart Talk program.
"Small-business owners and their workers comprise the largest segment of uninsured in Pennsylvania," Shivers said. "We simply cannot continue to say that health-care reform is our top priority and be content with the current stalemate over small business health-care reform. We are willing to work with anyone who is serious about tackling our nation's health-care crisis in a real and lasting way. That's what this new partnership is all about."
"The 'Divided We Fail' coalition is another way to ensure we leverage every resource in our fight to create a health-care system that's good for small business. While we may not, and will not, agree on every issue with our coalition partners, there are things that we can agree on and work together to achieve. But we won't make any progress to reduce health-care costs or improve access to health insurance if we don't work together.
"Many in Harrisburg have properly diagnosed the problem ailing Pennsylvania's health-care system. Unfortunately, some are offering treatments that could be disastrous for small-business owners and workers. Through this coalition, NFIB will ensure that small-business owners are given a voice in the policy debate to reform our nation's health-care system."
Shivers cited a recent NFIB Research Foundation study of Gov. Ed Rendell's proposed "Cover All Pennsylvanians" health-care plan. The project revealed the proposed payroll tax on employers to pay for the uninsured would cost Pennsylvania businesses nearly $2 billion annually and result in over 100,000 lost small-business jobs.
He noted that NFIB members are working with state lawmakers and policymakers on solutions that reduce health-care costs, expand consumer choices and improve quality of services without imposing new taxes or mandates on small businesses.
