Healthcare — a misnomer?
I'm the number two sponsor on The Family and Business Healthcare Security Act, which would cover all Pennsylvanians at lower cost to business. This past week, our Health and Human Services Committee held its first hearing on the bill (HB1660) at the Capitol.
When it was my turn to speak, I prefaced my comments by stating that I had been a business owner for nearly 28 years. And health insurance was our largest expenditure per month. I shared how much that cost was per year, and then I stated how much the cost would be under this plan—about half. (See testimonial of business owners across the Commonwealth.)
In later testimony, a woman representing the largest chamber in the state proffered that the "tax on business" would impact low income and entry level workers the most. When I asked her to explain, she said that restaurants would have to let their dishwashers go. I asked, "Then who would do the dishes?" (meaning, of course, restaurant and other business owners will not lay off workers needed to run their businesses just to avoid a minimal tax for insurance coverage).
Our low income and entry level workers are already being impacted by lack of health coverage. But none of us can be sure we have enough coverage or the right kind of coverage until we need it. It's time that we as a society put the health, safety, and welfare of our fellow citizens at the forefront of our policy-making.