Source:  PRESS RELEASE, 7/27/11
 

The National Federation of Independent Business President and CEO Dan Danner made the following statement regarding Congressman Mike McIntyre’s (D-NC) co-sponsorship of H.R. 1370, a bill to repeal the “Small-Business Health Insurance Tax,”(HIT) in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA).

NFIB estimates that the HIT will impact approximately 2 million small businesses, 12 million employees and self-employed who purchase in the individual market and 26 million employees who are covered by their employer. These businesses, owners and employees currently purchase or are covered by plans purchased in the newly “taxed” or fully insured marketplace. The HIT will also add an additional burden to many of the 30 million currently uninsured employees and self-employed who will soon have to purchase a “taxed” insurance plan through the exchange or outside the exchange.

“Health insurance costs are the No. 1 concern for the small-business community, and the health insurance tax included in PPACA will only exacerbate these worries and ultimately will make it even harder for small firms to succeed. Eliminating this cumbersome barrier to growth will provide small businesses with some certainty that will help create jobs and restore confidence, which is why repeal is a priority for small business--and should be a priority for lawmakers.

“While Washington’s attention is dominated by macro discussions about debt and spending, it’s encouraging to know that there are Members of Congress who haven’t forgotten about the daily trials of the men and women who work on Main Street.

“We warmly welcome Congressman McIntyre’s co-sponsorship of this vital legislation, before the tax takes a hit on the very people we count on to get us through the tough economic times, and we look forward to working with Congressman McIntyre and others in the future.”