01/29/2008
CONTACT: Stephanie Cathcart, 202-314-2056
WASHINGTON, D.C.--All or part of the following statement may be attributed to Dan Danner, executive vice president of the National Federation of Independent Business, the nation's leading small business association, reacting to California's health care plan failing to pass out of committee:
"Small-business owners dodged a bullet yesterday with the defeat of California's health bill. For the last year, health care policymakers across the country were watching closely as California attempted this major health care overhaul. Small-business owners have consistently voiced a need for reform but, as we learned in this case, it can't come at the expense of significant job loss.
"NFIB sees a real opportunity for lawmakers to learn from this: Meaningful reform can't happen without small business at the table. And, clearly, there are deal-breakers for small businesses when it comes to reform. A policy that funds reform on the backs of small-business owners and their employees is unacceptable.
"Small business wants a comprehensive solution to health care reform, which is why we issued our Small-Business Principles for Health Care Reform last month. And, as we continue to see health-care proposals discussed and introduced in Washington and across the country, we remind policymakers, and especially candidates, that these are our core values, a starting point from which comprehensive approaches can and should be explored.
"Small business is the backbone of this economy, and they continue to tell us that health care is their No. 1 priority. Candidates have begun to offer policy solutions, but have yet to fully consider and account for small business. We and our members look forward to sharing our principles for reform with policymakers and want to work together for a real solution."
