FOLSOM, CA November 7, 2013 – Today, Congressman Ami Bera, M.D. (CA-07) visited with members of the Sacramento County business community to discuss recently introduced legislation that helps protect small businesses and their employees from a harmful new health insurance tax, known as the HIT. The visit was coordinated by the Stop the HIT Coalition, a broad-based group representing the nation’s small business owners, their employees and the self-employed.
Hosted by Chris Hodges and Gene Moynier, the owners of Brothers Boats in Folsom, the event offered local business owners the opportunity to discuss their concerns with future changes to their health care plans and the importance of providing immediate relief from the HIT.
“America was founded on the principle that if you work hard and follow the rules, you’ll have the opportunity to succeed. My career as a doctor and now in Congress has certainly been a testament to that,” said Bera. “We owe it to the millions of Americans who own or work for a small business and are pursuing their own American Dreams to implement policies that will help bring down the sky rocketing cost of health care and foster growth. My bill would provide immediate relief to working families, small businesses and seniors.”
Congressman Bera is a lead sponsor of the Small Business and Family Relief Act, a bipartisan bill introduced last week in the U.S. House of Representatives that would delay implementation of the HIT for two years, providing relief to small businesses in California and around the country.
The HIT is an often-overlooked tax as part of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act that will significantly raise health insurance costs on millions of small businesses. According to the former director of the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office, the HIT will raise the health insurance costs for the average family by $5,000 over the next decade.
“Running a small business requires dedication, flexibility and a true understanding of the needs of your customers and employees,” Chris Hodges said. “I appreciate that the person we elected to represent us in Washington took the time today to meet with Folsom small businesses, and that he is taking steps to address our concerns.”
“Congressman Bera should be commended for his efforts on behalf of small businesses and families in California and across the country,” Gene Moynier said. “It is our hope that other lawmakers in Washington recognize the value in offering immediate relief from higher health care costs and help support the passage of this important legislation.”
California is home to 3.4 million small businesses that collectively employ more than half of the state’s workforce. If enacted, the HIT will cause total employment in California to decline by as much as 26,000 by 2022, and reduce the state’s GDP by nearly $9 billion during that same period.