Senators Assure Small Businesses That Health Reform Will Help Them

By Marianna Levyash-Talk Radio News Service

Senators Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) and Mary L. Landrieu (D-La.) welcomed over 100 small business owners from 26 states Tuesday to tell their stories about the problems they’ve experienced with the current health care system.

“This morning we have a simple message for the small business owners across America…help is on the way,” said Harkin.

Currently, small businesses pay up to 18% more per employee to receive the same healthcare coverage as a large business. Health premiums have increased more than 74% for small businesses over the last eight years.

The Senate’s health care bill will create an exchange system that specifically targets small business owners and the self-employed with a shop exchange, where states assist small businesses that choose to use the exchange. States that elect to do so will also get technical assistance.

Senator Landrieu stated that “these exchanges can work for the small businesses that we are depending on to lift and lead this nation out of this recession.”

The business owners will continue urging for health care reform throughout the day on Capitol Hill and at the White House.