The president is ready for another close up. Last week, not only did he offer his much-awaited health care proposal, but he was joined by Congressional leaders from both political parties for a televised summit on health care reform.
In theory, this summit was meant to hash out a thorny public policy issue in full view of the American people, which is why a team of elite DC media makeup artists had been on standby all week.
If this is supposed to be some kind of experiment in transparency, it’s a little late.
In the words of Hillary Clinton, I think it’s time to press the reset button.
The president should scrap the current partisan plans, including his own--which is merely a wardrobe change for the House and Senate versions.
We know that current health insurance costs already stifle small business growth and job creation, and ever rising costs are a significant drag as economic recovery struggles to take hold. Yet the president’s bill only focuses on the ideal of health care for all. It would enact mandates to penalize businesses that cannot afford insurance coverage for their workers, as well as businesses that cannot afford good enough health insurance for their workers – as decided by government bureaucrats. As one employer with 500 employees told me recently, “this isn’t about taking more of my profits with higher taxes. The president’s plan - with its employer fees - would put me out of business.”
We should remember that small businesses will likely be our ticket out of this recession. Small businesses (with fewer than 20 employees) provide two-thirds of all new jobs. Enacting harmful government mandates despite a desperate need for new jobs makes about as much sense as Rachel Maddow attending CPAC.
The president’s bill would drive costs up enormously for businesses. It would force many businesses to lay off more workers, or close their doors for good. Those laid-off employees would then be minus jobs as well as health insurance.
The number of jobs “saved” would surely take a hit.
Individuals and families here in Maine and across the nation are right to fear that with current health care proposals we’ll pay more and get less.
But we do understand that our nation needs health care reform. The status quo is unacceptable… unless the alternative is something worse.