WASHINGTON, D.C. – In reaction to the Obama Administration’s so-called outline to ‘help’ America’s small businesses, Rep. Howard P. "Buck" McKeon (R-Santa Clarita) released the following statement warning that a government takeover of health care will significantly hurt small businesses:
“Republicans continue urging the Majority to reach across the aisle to craft bipartisan health care reform legislation, but under the current proposals being considered, Democrats aim to significantly grow the federal government by including a government-run health care program. Within the Democrats’ health care plans are provisions detrimental to small businesses, with hundreds of thousands of dollars in new mandates and crippling taxes, including a $544 billion surtax.
“Everyone agrees that our country must reform our health care system, but we must do that in responsible ways. In the face of a 26 year high unemployment rate, it is unthinkable to strap America’s small businesses with outrageous taxes. Small businesses represent more than 99 percent of all employers, employing 51 percent of private-sector workers and 40 percent of workers in high-tech jobs. We need to save jobs, not kill them. There are better ways of achieving reform.”
In July, McKeon attempted to protect small businesses and working families with an amendment to a Democrat health care reform bill in the Education and Labor Committee. McKeon aimed to authorize the formation of Small Business Health Plans, but Democrats rejected the amendment.
###
