The President talks about the pain being felt by small business, and some of the steps taken by his Administration to help a segment of our economy that creates so many jobs. And yesterday’s New York Times had a story detailing the massive hike in health care costs that these small business will face next year. From the Times:
Insurance brokers and benefits consultants say their small business clients are seeing premiums go up an average of about 15 percent for the coming year — double the rate of last year’s increases. That would mean an annual premium that was $4,500 per employee in 2008 and $4,800 this year would rise to $5,500 in 2010.
While debate continues the Republican Leader, Mitch McConnell, said Republicans cannot be in favor of any plan that “raises premiums”. I am not sure what his thoughts are on 15 percent hikes in small business premiums, or how we all survive with that rate of increase. Health care continues to strangle the economy, effectively wiping out our chance to recover from the recession and create jobs. The numbers are frightening, and the solutions to the crushing cost explosion in health care do not seem to be on the radar screen.
Bill Manzi.com 
Your Honor,
As I read your commentary above, I already had my “defensive response” mechanism armed and ready. I went through the first paragraph where I got out my “liberal bleeding heart” defense.
Your next paragraph began with the word ‘Republican’ in the first sentence, and now the hairs on the back of my head stiffened, but the attack never came. By the end of the paragraph I was totally confused. “What was the Mayor saying? Was he supporting Obama or was he sympathetic with small businessman?
I finally concluded you went with “both”. As a liberal you are conflicted. You can’t take a stance.
Your DNA wants to tax, tax, tax (from a legislative view point) but your commercial constituency, being largely small businessmen, are at risk with the 15% increase in health care costs. Note here, we both know no figures coming from any legislative body are ever correct and they NEVER go lower.
So what to do. Me I say scrap the OBAMA, Pelosi, Reid fiasco and lower the sight to pick up those who want helthcare but cannot afford it.
That won’t happen. Your friends are going to screw us royally.
Jules
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