Business Groups Divided Over Health Reform
By Ceci Connolly and Paul Kane
America's business community remains divided over the health-reform proposals emerging on Capitol Hill.
The influential National Retail Federation, despite concessions made by the House Democratic leadership to temper some of the more liberal provisions in its bill, "strongly opposes" the legislation, according to a letter being delivered on Capitol Hill late Thursday.
The federation, which represents 1.6 million businesses with 24 million employees, has concluded the changes made to appease a handful of conservative "Blue Dog" Democrats do not go far enough in softening the high cost of the bill to small businesses. And the trade group warns that lawmakers will be held accountable on the issue, noting that it plans to include the bill in its "voting guide" for members.
On Friday, however, the Main Street Alliance plans to release a report which it says "challenges the convention wisdom" on the corporate sector's position. That group is expected to release a survey of 180 small businesses in Arkansas that overwhelmingly support the type of changes envisioned in the legislative proposals.
And there's the Business Roundtable, which is taking the middle-ground approach. Rather than saying anything about the House legislation, the association of leading CEOs sent a letter to the Senate Finance Committee urging it to continuing its bipartisan discussions. Senate negotiators are not discussing a government-financed public option to insurance; instead they are opting for a series of regional non-profit cooperatives as the competitor to the private sector.
“We encourage the Senate Finance Committee to persevere in their negotiations on the health care reform bill and work towards achieving a solution. We have been at the table from day one with our sleeves rolled-up and extend our continued support on this effort,” John J. Castellani, President, Business Roundtable, wrote. “Our elected leaders cannot disengage. All sides should remain at the negotiating table and work to secure a reform package that will slow the rate of growth in health care costs, ensure that Americans can keep their existing health plans and offer assistance to small employers and individuals in finding affordable coverage.”
The entire NRF letter can be read here.
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Ceci Connolly
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July 30, 2009; 6:51 PM ET
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US business and industry would be extremely benefited by a single payer Medicare or all type system. It would reduce their costs by at least several trillion dollars a year. Medical care would continue to be offered by the present infrasructure of private practicioners, clinics and hospitals and their costs would be significantly reduced by eliminating the maze of billing to over 14,000 fragmented different insurance plans. I would also solve the problems of denial of service and recision of coverage when we need it the most, in the case of serious and debilitating illness when the private insurance companies decide that a life is too expensive to save. The financial community and some of our paid and bought elected officials would object and but that is really too bad!!!!