The Society of American Florists (SAF) is strongly encouraging growers to write their representatives in the U.S. House asking them to oppose health care reform as it currently sits in Congress.
SAF wrote the following about legislation in its Washington Week In Review newsletter July 24:
On the House side, a proposal called America’s Affordable Health Choices Act (HR 3200) was approved by the Ways and Means Committee and the Education and Labor Committee. It’s still being debated by the House Energy and Commerce Committee. Moderate Democrats on the House Energy and Commerce Committee, including Blue Dog Democrats and New Democrat Coalition Members, sent a letter to Democratic Representative Henry Waxman listing 10 changes they need to see in the bill before they can vote “yes.”
Representative Mike Ross, a Blue Dog Democrat from Arkansas who chairs the health care task force, is pushing for more cost control, a greater small business exemption from the mandate to provide health insurance or pay a penalty, and reforms to the proposal creating a government-run “public plan” to compete with private insurers.
SAF strongly encourages you to write your Representatives to oppose HR 3200 as currently drafted because it will not control costs, yet includes a mandate that employers either provide health insurance or pay fines or payroll taxes.
Nearly 170 million Americans get health insurance coverage through their employer. Many small floral employers offer health insurance and many others would like to offer it but can’t because of the cost. Costs of premiums are unpredictable and have been increasing steadily–far beyond inflation–for years.
SAF is part of the Small Business Coalition for Affordable Health Care and supports market-based pooling arrangements, tax incentives to assist with the purchase of health insurance, increasing health care options and increased transparency for consumers.
Have a thought on health care reform? Chime in at Fresh Air Forum or comment below.