The local business community echoes the feeling among the national business sector on the health care reform bill that passed in the U.S. House of Representatives - fear.
Rebecca Evans, director of the Small Business Development Center, said local small business owners she's spoken to say they'll experience a severe financial burden because they don't generate enough profit to offer health benefits to their employees. Particularly, one restaurant owner who has 12 employees told her the bill's passage could be detrimental to the business.
"If they were included in having to offer health care benefits to their employees," Ms. Evans said, "I guarantee you they will shut their doors."
Ms. Evans said local small business owners want to see reform that includes better access and lower costs overall. What they're seeing now is reform that none of them want.
"It's like a bad version," she said of the current legislation. "It's like a trial version and it's not what the people I speak to are wanting."
Those against the current legislation have pumped $24 million into television commercials, according to an Associated Press article last week, about twice as much as proponents.
One of the largest foes is the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. The local chamber has also taken a stand against the legislation.
Ted Allison, president and chief executive officer at the St. Joseph Area Chamber of Commerce, fears an unintended consequence of layoffs, slower job growth and a substantial increase in bankruptcies if the bill gets through the Senate as is.
"Our position is that the final solution has to include more individual responsibility," Mr. Allison said, adding that people are being more mindful about how to control costs and how "lifestyles can affect those costs."
Mr. Allison said the problem can't be solved until every individual is insured and they "become part of the solution." Furthermore, he said he believes there is a need for reform, but creating a government-driven program is not the
answer.
He said that with the Midwest just barely pulling out of the recession, the proposed reform could take the U.S. in the wrong direction by "imposing new mandates and penalties and taxes" on small businesses, many of which are run by middle-class citizens.
Stet Schanze, president of Gray Manufacturing, where about 150 are employed, said he's following the legislation closely.
"The drafts we've seen," he said, "it would be concerning to small business - the anticipated cost it would add to our normal business expenses."
Jimmy Myers can be reached at jimmym@npgco.com.
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rk92559 says...
What are you people even talking about?
one restaurant owner who has 12 employees told her the bill's passage could be detrimental to the business.
So you won't offer a health plan, but don't want your employees to have an affordable option to get insurance?? You think people should take personal responsibilty and everyone should get insurance...but you don't want to pay anything. They should cut back on eating or buying clothes or anything else to pay for health insurance because you don't want to, and you want nothing to change.
****Mr. Allison said the problem can't be solved until every individual is insured and they "become part of the solution." Furthermore, he said he believes there is a need for reform, but creating a government-driven program is not the
answer.***
That is terric Mr. Allison. Me and the 12 people that work at the unamed restaurant will be down and sign up for the Insurance plan your on with the city....that we pay for. Where do we sign up? I want to be part of the solution.
November 22, 2009 at 12:59 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Trixie says...
Isn't it ironic that our entrepreneurial business leaders are so fearful of change? Leadership is not the same thing as obstructionism. The Chamber & Friends need to step up and be leaders. "Just say no" didn't work for the "war on drugs" and it won't work now.
November 22, 2009 at 7:14 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
xanzzz says...
This health insurance debate always comes down to who is getting their health insurance relatively cheaply and those who are not. In small businesses it comes down to those who are not offering health insurance and the ones that do. I am a small business owner who considers it my obligation to provide health insurance as a benefit who cannot be more passionate about getting a national health care plan. Even if it stinks at least we will have something in place to fix and make better.
It is very misleading to use the term "small business" in these types of articles. They should describe them as the businesses that uses the cheapest work force possible and who cares about those people if they can afford our health care system. Well we should because they are part of the reason everyone else's insurance is going up as we end up paying for them. These are the same people that yell fatal doom every time there is a minimum wage increase. They just do not have much credibility with me.
With more and more people losing their health insurance by companies not offering plans and more, more paying a higher portion of premium and those premiums raised at a staggering higher rate then inflation it is not if but when there will be universal health care. There is no evidence the industry itself can self police so all those going doom and gloom about government run to me have no leg to stand on. Because with at least a universal health care plan many more people will have the ability not to be broken in some way by our current extortion type system and we can all be on the same page to try to then come up with something that works as best as something can.
Because right now I got mine who cares about the others is failing and soon there will be critical mass of more people in the latter.
November 22, 2009 at 7:31 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Woody says...
"It's like a bad version," she said of the current legislation. "It's like a trial version and it's not what the people I speak to are wanting."
Apparently, she's not speaking to her employees.
November 22, 2009 at 8:58 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
arch286 says...
Cheap help is the key word, everyone wants everything cheap, but at the end someone will pay. My current employer is a larger company with over 1000 locations, the company has benefits, but has cut hours even to its own managers to avoid paying for those benefits. This is so common. Yes the company does offer health insurance, but no one can afford because the employees do not earn enough to pay premiums. Consumers demand cheap goods because they are paying most of their incomes to insurance companies to pay for the individuals providing them with cheap goods. Independent contractors is another way businesses are cutting costs, making everyone an independent contractor. We need national health care because we are a service economy today.
November 22, 2009 at 9:11 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
mm1967 says...
Someone might ask Mr Allision where the job growth im our community is now and why Smith Electric Vehicles did not locate here when we had a qualified work force for those jobs.
One might also ask where other jobs are they are biulding another business park but the fact remains we still have biulding in the Mitchell Woods business Park that are empty.
Looo what is happening with all of the new eating establishments that have came to town they are pushing the local guys out of business.So where was the gain in all of this?
Where are the good paying Manufacturing job,technical jobs, and such for the service sector can remain in business.I am for Health care reform in some fashion people need to have health care and for as the Bankruptcy's being filed Mr Allison have you not bee watching what is going on in the last year and the hugh numbers already that have had to file bankruptcy because of Job losses and Health care bills they have.We can continue down the road we are on or we can work together for the good of our country's people and get reform done.I am against this in anyway hurting our Seniors, or Military Personal.But heath insurance needs to be made more affordable for the consumer and the fact the insurance company's are will not cover people is just crazy.What are these people suppose to do just curl up in a ball and die?
I am very interested in why Smith Electric Vehicle did not want to locate here with a qualified work force and the tax base lower then Kansas City plus the labor cost is cheaper here in St Joseph vers Kansas City where Smith decieded to locate?Any answers?
November 22, 2009 at 9:51 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
xfiremanfarmer says...
I usually vote for conservatives which means Republicans. I am totally embarassed by the Republican senators 39 NO votes to have a debate. This vote means that the important issue of having 47,000 people die each year; And that 31 Million legal Americans do without insurance because of pre-existing condition,genetic defects, etc. means nothing to my adopted party's true values . The shame is that we had the presidency for the previous 8 years and most of congress during that time. It also tells me how we should look at some small business owners values as well as the Chamber's. Sam Graves poor excuse for doing a co-op for small business is a joke. Cobra for the US gov't runs from 280 to 500 per month let's see Graves get a deal like that for farmers and small businesses. He can't, sadly he is what he delivers. And sadly some of these people attend church with us, perhaps someday they will learn something there.
November 22, 2009 at 10:58 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
drbjr says...
mm1967, have you tried calling Mr. Allison? Also, there is this thing on the web called Google. Using it I located this in 20 seconds. "The SEV US decision to locate the plant in Kansas City represents an initial investment of $10 million in the metro area. The KCI overhaul base was selected for the new assembly plant because of its open configuration and immediate availability. The assembly plant will occupy 80,000 square feet at the overhaul base at start-up and will scale up based on demand. SEV US Corp is also leasing 8,600 square feet of office space at the Ambassador Building at KCI."
Perhaps the decision was due to the fact we did not have a ready made facility that could scale up for them.
Also, Mr. Allison does not work for the city. I doubt he is on their health insurance plan unless his spouse works there.
November 22, 2009 at 11:31 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Timothy_Dike says...
No one dies in this country because they have no health insurance. That is such a crock. The uninsured are treated all the time. I'm earning my health insurance, how about you earn yours too. My coverage is part of my compensation, and I don't see why I should have to earn mine and yours too. How many of these uninsured manage to have fancy cell phones, Nintendo or Wii's, big screen TV's, Cable TV and internet. So the rest of us need to pay for your heath insurance so you can still buy a pack of smokes???
As for the small businesses, we already took away a source of cheap labor with the minimum wage law. Now you want to force them to even pay more. Well get ready to pay more for your dinner. We are already paying more for everything else and this just means we will probably eat out less. So the restaurants will suffer even more.
November 22, 2009 at 3:18 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
mm1967 says...
Timothy Dike,
Well it would be great if all people had a job in this economy to earn their health insurance or made enough to buy it.
Also there are some no insurance company's will insure because of a little thing called a pre-existing conditions ever heard of it?
Are there some people who may fit your discription above yes but you cannot label all people this way.We need some form of health care reform anyway you look at it.Who do you think pays the bills of the uninsured?All of us do becasue the health care providers pass this onto you and me and everybody else who has insurance.Do you think this has anything to do with our premiums going up and benefits going down?I know our insurance premiums just went up and our benefits cahnaged and not for the betterment of us but rather for the insurance company.
November 22, 2009 at 8:33 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
c0uchtime says...
PREDICTION: The insurance industry is toast. They cannot renegotiate their stands on 'pre-existing' or 'overly expensive claims' without either raising premiums so very, very high that the entire industry topples, or cut back heavily on TV advertising, lobbying and Congressperson- buying. In any case, they will lose their stranglehold on our lawmakers and the industry will not be able to adjust. As they founder, they will try to bring up the "too big to fail" ruse, only to find out that the banking industry already blew that one apart. RESULT: single payor insurance.
November 22, 2009 at 10:08 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
donaldo says...
xaozzz, you are right on the nail head,take care of the workers and they will in turn be good for your business. i think a lot of people like you and it would be a pleasure to do business with you. i hope in the future i can if i knew what you own. if everyone did like you and cared about their employees it would be a better world. mm1967, some people like Timmy boy just doesn't understand about others in this recession, they don't have any empathy towards their fellow man, just the republican views and the heck with anyone else that is suffering. it is sad that they feel that way, nothing we can do to show how hard it is in today's economy. sad but true. i think i will retire after this health care goes through, i will be able to afford everything else if we have a health care plan that is cheaper for all, instead of just the rich few.
November 22, 2009 at 10:21 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
ApparentlySo says...
Wow the question answered...
November 23, 2009 at 1:53 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
LibertyOrDeath says...
Fighting for your fellow man's personal liberty and freedoms show much more compassion than fighting to give the government more control over the liberties and freedoms of the same man.
"Those who would surrender freedom and liberty for temporary safety deserve neither and will lose both."
The temporary safety in this case is nationalized health care. It is only temporary because if humans have taught us anything it's that the more you do for them, the less they do for themselves.
It used to be farming. It is now impossible for a farmer to operate without government assistance at some level. Subsidization and bureaucracy are the direct causes for that as we need to, "feed the world."
Now it is health care. It will become impossible for anyone to receive health care without government assistance at some level. Subsidization and bureaucracy will create the direct result of a poorer standard of care, treatment rationing and skyrocketing costs as we need to, "insure the world."
What will it be tomorrow? You think nothing?
You think early farmers ever thought they would be subsidized, by force, by the government? If they do not take the subsidies they will go under. Ask any farmer.
This is not the road to a solution, it will only create more problems and expedite the U.S. bankruptcy process.
Does anyone here even consider that our enemies know us to be politically divided and economically weak with NO surplus to speak of?
Has a gross display of weakness ever been good for any country? It's beginning to be clear that the fall of the American military empire will be for the best of the American people and the whole cause of liberty than any number of wars won.
I would rather die a free man fighting for love and compassion than to live like a spineless coward under tyranny of any form.
Going with the flow never did anything for a country. Ask a Frenchman.
November 23, 2009 at 7:10 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
sjsk8rboi says...
We already have health care for those who cannot afford insurance, it's called Medicare and Medicaid. Maybe we should work on making those programs more efficient and not pass legislation to add even more debt to our already floundering economy. This is not the time to add TRILLIONS of new dollars to our debt of more than $14 Trillion.
With unemployment in the double digits and the recession teetering on the edge of a double dip recession (http://www.investopedia.com/terms/d/d...) we should be trying to find ways to stimulate the economy and adding new taxes to the people who create the most jobs in the country is not the way to create new jobs. "Stimulus" money is not free cash. That money has to come from somewhere. It's not the governments money, it's yours and mine. We should be more vocal on how our leaders spend our money.
Please spend some time in the ER some weekend. I dare you to show me anyone (legal or not) who is denied care based on their inability to pay. ALL Americans have access to free health care in some form or another. If this bill is passed, those same people will have to pay for their insurance or risk going to jail. How is this better for those who are living in abject poverty?
November 23, 2009 at 9:48 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
xfiremanfarmer says...
Yes, you can find people in the ER each and every weekend. What you don't find is those same people getting routine doctor care and the necessary surgeries. Some doctors do donate what they can. And some hospitals suck it up as a loss and the rest of us pay for it. But you need to turn on the local news in KC and see the compelling stories of insurance denying coverage or worming their way out of care. Decisions are not made by doctors but rather paper shufflers. 31 million legal Americans are being denied.And some 47000 die each year for not having it. I almost lost my son last year due to acute astma and for not having it. I pray that it's not your loved ones , but they are someone's. The president of the AMA said that those without health insurance could be put in the Federal Employees Health Benefit Plan and get their insurance there for 280 to 550 per month. JUST LIKE COBRA AND WITH THE SAME INSURANCE COMPANIES THAT THE FEDERAL EMPLOYEES AND ELECTED OFFICALS HAVE FOR THEIRS ! But the Dems want a 2000 page plan and the Repubs want to say no and do nothing like they did for the previous 8 yrs. 50 yrs of saying no to even Nixon. I say that they are both up to the trough sucking up money from the insurance companies one way or another and us "peons" are getting just that...... but spelled slightly different.
November 23, 2009 at 12:44 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
sjsk8rboi says...
fireman, I am sorry you almost lost your son last year. I can't even imagine the pain and suffering that must have caused you and your family. I too have had battles with hospitals and insurance companies over hospital care. I don't believe the issue is whether we need health reform (most believe we do) but the way that the Dems are going about it. You are concerned about the paper-shufflers making health care decisions? What do you think will happen when the government is deciding on which treatment you can and can't receive? It is not the responsibility of the government to determine what type of health care that physicians should provide to their patients. We already see it with Medicare and Medicaid. Some treatments are excluded and many physicians don't accept Medicare due to low government reimbursement. All of those issues are going to be increased 50-fold if we get a fully government-controlled health care plan in the US.
We can reform health care and insurance right now without adding TRILLIONS of new dollars to our already strapped economy. We should reform Medicare and Medicaid and look into tort reform so our physicians can make the best decisions for their patients and not order unneeded tests to save their butts from being sued out of practice. This is not the time to try to start new programs that won't even go into effect for years to come.
November 23, 2009 at 3:27 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
yougottabekiddingme says...
Health insurance is NOT a right. If you want health insurance, find a job that offers insurance as a benefit or pay for it out of pocket. I know that is a foreign concept to alot of people. One of the primary reasons I work is so that my family can have good health insurance. I do NOT expect someone else to pay for it for me and I do not want to pay for someone's insurance. Especially someone who has a new iphone and a new flat screen and is probably getting free food thanks to food stamps.
November 23, 2009 at 3:49 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
xfiremanfarmer says...
yougotta, Wasn't there a document that mentioned the pursuit of life, liberty, and so on ? If healthcare isn't part of life then I don't know what is. It's important as having police,military,and other emergency services. We all have been paying for those without insurance for a very long time esp. since charity hospitals started becoming for profit ones. Some people don't get medicare or medicaid or live in a rural state where there is only want 1 or 2 insurance companies that provide 90 % of the insurance thruout a state. Try to go there with a pre-existing condition like say diabetes and see if you can be self employed and get a policy.. I paid full cost for my individual policy for 16 yrs.while self employed. Employees should know what their employers have to pay for their policies. Most would be surprised ! That's part of the reason why raises have been so minimal. Nationwide companies are either doing away with a health care package or laying off people and telling them they can contract to work for that same company and provide their own coverage. 1 in 3 people have gone without insurance in the last year. Think about it ,you could have that sick kid or grandchild or lose your job and both political parties really don't or won't deliver an affordable health insurance rates for all Americans and without discrimination. Politco are only worried about themselves. McCaskill,Bond,Graves,Jenkins have theirs.And will still get it after they leave office and for free
November 23, 2009 at 5:37 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
terrebatu says...
yougotta-I cannot believe you are comfortable with the thought of another human beings chances of surviving a serious illness or injury, should be directly linked to ones economic status. That attitude is not only morally reprehensible, it's also a major reason this country is in the shape it is in. Until this country can come together and stop acting like a bunch of selfish asses our problems will remain unsolved.
November 23, 2009 at 5:38 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
mm1967 says...
yougottabekiddingme,
We have agreed on many thing in the past and I do agreed if people work they will have health insurance but right now in this time jobs are few and far between so people who want to work and have benefits cannot.
Also the insurance company's continue to raise our premiums while they raise our deductibles and out of pocket expenses every year.Not to mention the benefits that they change or take away every year.
Xfiremanfarmer,
I agreewith you 100% and I am understand where you are coming from we have children with sever ashtma and our health insurance changes something they will pay for them or will not everytime I turn around.
Something need reformed and now not tommorow but now for the american people.
Terrebatu,
You are correct in your position unless this country can come together and quit acting like selfish asses our problems will remain unsolved and get worse.
And for the person talking about medicaid if there was health insurance for all and they had to pay their part and some would not but this would be a hugh savings to the medicaid program.Why would this program be needed any longer if we had health care insurance for all.
November 23, 2009 at 6:06 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Agent_Provocateur says...
The GOP is in bed with the insurance companies. The DEMS are in bed with the trial lawyers, and the rest of us are screwed. "Your" representatives in DC are not working for us they are working for whichever lobbyist is buying their party. I'm not even going to get into big Pharm's lobby power.
November 23, 2009 at 6:13 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
recordsetter816 says...
I had health insurance and overtime yet my fellow workers were still NOT SATISFIED. The Teamsters convinced us Smurfit workers to strike and we did. Now, all we can sing is "NO JOB, NO WOMAN, ALL CRY."
November 23, 2009 at 9:11 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
XJotowner says...
Most jobs today do not provide health insurance like the old days. Even those that do the employee pays a large portion of it.
I am not sure this is the way to go with this particular bill. If the parties would actually try to do whats best for the country we might get something worthwhile but the right doesn't want anything and the left wants to force it down your throat.
I am self employed and they have increased our premuims yearly so it is beginning to be unaffordable and we barely even use it. Over $900 a month for family of 5 is expensive.
November 24, 2009 at 10:18 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
borderpatrol says...
People the right wing are lying to you to protect profits for their contributers. Don't believe me how about the A.P., how do you feel about being lied too beacuse they are counting on you not being smart enough to think for yourself. Here is your link that sums it up about the deception being fed to you from this rag of a paper and your fox news.
SPIN METER: 'War and Peace' in 209 pages?
November 24, 2009 at 11:07 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
borderpatrol says...
The embarrassing truth.
With so much at steak we depend on our elected officials for honesty, integrity and ethical behavior. Watching the right wing of late has been akin to watching a worn out soap opera. Theatrical performances that are worthy of a B movie award and that is being generous. Think of the most awkward situation in the world: you have just been caught lying on a grand scale and now having to explain yourself. That is what the Republican Party will now have to do. Recently the A.P. has reported that the republicans have reprinted the health reform bill to make it look bigger. They have led people to believe that the bill is over 2,000 pages long when in reality it is 209 pages. How was this done? The A.P. has reported that they have reprinted using double margins larger font and double spacing. It reminds me of high school you have a big paper due and employ these methods to cheat. Let us call this what it really is LYING. I knew their actions of late were despicable but this has gone too far and people that are acting on their guidance need to be aware. It is no secret that for many, many years the Republican Party has relied on fear to control people. It appears that they are now beside themselves. Living in the information age it has become all too easy to research any topic. They are not used to people not taking what they say at face value. They have resorted to being creative which has proven to be quite difficult for those controlling the message. This attempt at creativity has left them vulnerable to common sense as well as the truth. I do not believe that all republicans are bad. The problem is in the information they are given. It seems anymore that if it rains it is Obama's fault. I do not care if you are Republican, Democrat or Independent if you have a good idea that is good for all Americans then I am for you. If you are trying to protect those that victimize Americans then I call you a traitor. I have just one request as one American to another. All of you fox news, Limbaugh and Bachman fans ask yourself this; how do you feel about being manipulated for political posturing, when you know that it hurts your neighbor and is bad for your country? If the core party is about family values and Christian faith how do you feel about leaving your brothers, sisters and children for the wolves that are corporate America. Ask yourself why your party no longer recognizes the term citizen just consumer. Are your children's children not as important as profits and power? Don't answer me answer yourselves. They have turned the message into us against them and division always results in less.
• A.P.
• SPIN METER: 'War and Peace' in 209 pages?
November 24, 2009 at 11:21 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )