The National Grange is a nonpartisan rural advocacy organization that serves as a voice for farmers in rural communities. Although we are a national organization, The Grange has a local focus: advocating for policies that will help individual communities grow and thrive. We believe that by strengthening our hometowns today, we can have a lasting and positive impact tomorrow.
Supporting the Stop the HIT coalition means protecting small businesses, their employees and consumers against increasing health care costs. The impending health insurance tax (HIT) included in the President’s health care law raises more than $100 billion in the first decade, and would be largely financed by consumers. In fact, as many as 88 percent of small businesses and their employees could feel the effects of the HIT.
Employees and their families will feel the HIT due to higher health insurance premiums. One of the cornerstones of our organization is “family centrism.” Added annual expenses like the HIT don’t help families, especially those in the rural communities hardest hit in the recession and still struggling to recover.
The National Grange is joining the Stop the HIT Coalition now because time is running out to repeal this burdensome tax on small businesses, the workers they employ and their families. Set to go into effect in just six months, this issue is too important to ignore. Small businesses are an anchor in communities across the country and we need to ensure we continue to facilitate their growth. With all of the changes health care reform will impose for rural Americans, the HIT is just one more burden they shouldn’t have to face. We look forward to working with Stop the HIT to repeal the HIT, and encourage all communities that want to protect small businesses to get involved.
Grace Boatright
Legislative Director
National Grange