The American Supply Association (ASA) is a unified voice for wholesaler- distributors and their manufacturers and suppliers in the plumbing, heating, cooling and industrial pipe, valve and fitting industry. Our national organization advocates for legislative and regulatory initiatives that ensure our members can continue to thrive during these uncertain times.
Unfortunately, we have been hearing more and more about how the new health insurance tax (HIT) included in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) threatens to raise the cost of health care for our members and their employees. That is why we teamed up with more than 35 other organizations representing small businesses and the self-employed to raise awareness of the need to repeal this tax at an event on Capitol Hill, yesterday, hosted by the Stop the HIT Coalition.
The event featured the lead sponsors of legislation to repeal the HIT, including Senators John Barrasso and Orrin Hatch as well as Representatives Charles Boustany and Jim Matheson. We commend them for their leadership on this issue and appreciate their time to highlight how the PPACA specifically targets small businesses through this new tax. Their dedication to protecting small businesses, as are many ASA members, is extremely important to continuing to foster economic growth. We are also thankful to have been joined by three small business owners, Gina Martin of Little Rock Tours and Travel in Little Rock, Arkansas, Joe Moreshead of Precision Screw Machine Parts in Biddeford, Maine, and Mike Mitternight of Factory Service Agency in Metairie, Louisiana. These hard-working individuals reminded us of why we must continue to spread the word about the detrimental effects of this tax.
The HIT has been lingering over the heads of small businesses for many months, and we can no longer afford to ignore it. In fact, the implementation date is only six short months away, and the momentum to repeal the HIT in Congress is picking up steam. It is a bipartisan effort that has garnered support from more than 240 members of Congress, and events, like the one yesterday, demonstrate just how important this issue is to small businesses.
ASA cannot support policies that make it more challenging for our members to expand their businesses and provide benefits to employees. Our members strongly believe the hard-working Americans who work for them are their most valuable assets, but the HIT will increase their annual premiums by nearly $500 per family.
Our members are counting down to the HIT. Although the window to stop this crushing tax is closing, there is still time for you to reach out to your member of Congress, and urge them to take action to protect small businesses. The event was a positive step forward to helping members of Congress and other individuals understand the HIT’s impact, but more people must take action. With your help, we can stop the HIT.
Dan Hilton
Director of Government Affairs
American Supply Association