December 21, 2009 - In a rush to pass a massive health care overhaul before Christmas, Senate Democrats have included a last-minute provision targeting the construction industry that is certain to derail the fragile housing recovery and threaten the solvency of countless small home building firms. In order to find the 60 votes needed to pass health care reform, a provision was slipped into the health care bill that unfairly targets small construction industry firms by mandating that they provide health insurance if they employ more than five workers. That is the same mandate required for big businesses. Meanwhile, all other small businesses – with the exception of the construction industry -- would be exempt from providing mandatory health coverage if they employ 50 workers or less. “This narrow provision is an unprecedented assault on the construction industry and unjustly targets an industry trying to keep its doors open during the worst housing downturn since the Great Depression,” said NAHB Chairman Joe Robson, a home builder from Tulsa, Okla. “If this provision were to be enacted into law, it would prove to be catastrophic for the home building industry. In short, this is a true jobs killer. Thousands of small builder firms struggling to stay afloat could go under. We strongly urge the Senate to reconsider and pull this onerous provision that threatens the viability of small home builders across the nation.”
Matthew, Thanks for your Point-Out. You surely agree that our system needs reform. I wish it would be longer-range in thinking and be loaded with Preventative Measures, a TRUE HEALTH CARE SYSTEM. I suspect that the Construction Industry is targeted because it is accident/sick prone and the workers run to emergence rooms, for FREE. Why do we require all automobile owners to get insurance? Same thing appears to be needed in the "Sick Care System".
I believe that the BILL will be an overall plus, that will be modified year after year until it is closer to RIGHT. The load of criticism was similarly dumped on Medicare at its inception.
Everyone is in agreement we need to improve our system however it seems they are more concerened with getting it done versus getting it right. If it was right it they would not need to bribe for votes.
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