Florida Chamber: Obamacare Flawed, Meaningful Reform Needed
Mark Wilson, President and CEO of the Florida Chamber of Commerce, released the following statement regarding the Supreme Court of the United States ruling upholding the health care law.
“Obamacare is a bad prescription for job creation and economic growth, and today’s ruling will have a long-lasting effect on the spirit of America’s entrepreneurs -- true job creators.
“The looming cloud of uncertainty and fear of enormous and costly employer obligations will now be realized under today’s ruling and will cost many Floridians their employer-based health insurance, undermine job creation and raise health care costs for all.
“Private-sector jobs, particularly small businesses, will be hit hardest. In fact, the federal health care law will be financially devastating for many small businesses. More than 4,500 jobs and at least $3.5 billion in sales are now at risk -- a sad reality just as Florida’s economy was beginning to head in the right direction on jobs and reemployment.
“Employers need a stable and predictable business climate to foster economic growth and that is why the Florida Chamber engaged in this lawsuit and co-filed an amicus brief with other state chamber of commerce.
“Florida already has nearly 50 health care mandates. The last thing Florida job creators need is another Washington mandate placing burdensome and unreasonable regulations on their businesses. Yet the federal health care law establishes 159 new agencies, panels, commissions and regulatory bodies.
“We recognize the cost of health care continues to rise. The United States continues to spend more per capita on health care than any other country and the Florida Chamber’s Small Business Index Survey consistently ranks increasing health care costs as one of the leading concerns of small business owners throughout our state.
“But we remain deeply concerned that Obamacare is flawed. As we move forward, it is important that we roll up our sleeves and work toward more meaningful reform that doesn’t hurt employers, impact employee wages, kill jobs and increase red-tape. True reform that makes health care affordable and accessible is needed -- not an unrealistic and burdensome Washington mandate.
“The Florida Chamber commends Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi for her bold leadership in leading this 26-state legal challenge.”
Previous
Next
2 comments
Comments (2)
4:35PM JUN 29TH 2012
The Chamber and the GOP need to get to work creating new jobs and stop worrying about health care... The economy seems to be turning around IN SPITE of the GOP's lack of real leadership. Imagine what the economy would be like if the GOP leaders cooperated even 50% of the time with the Obama administration.....Obama 2012
6:10PM JUN 28TH 2012
When it comes to repeal versus carrying out this law, I think I'd rather listen to medical professionals than the Chamber of Commerce:
AMERICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION
AMA "has long supported health insurance coverage for all, and we are pleased that this decision means millions of Americans can look forward to the coverage they need to get healthy and stay healthy.
"This decision protects important improvements, such as ending coverage denials due to pre-existing conditions and lifetime caps on insurance, and allowing the 2.5 million young adults up to age 26 who gained coverage under the law to stay on their parents' health insurance policies." "The expanded health care coverage upheld by the Supreme Court will allow patients to see their doctors earlier rather than waiting for treatment until they are sicker and care is more expensive. The decision upholds funding for important research on the effectiveness of drugs and treatments and protects expanded coverage for prevention and wellness care, which has already benefited about 54 million Americans."
AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION
The court's decision "will benefit America's heart health for decades to come. Questions about the Affordable Care Act's constitutionality have overshadowed the law's progress. With this ruling, that uncertainty has finally been put to rest.
"By upholding the law, the nation's highest court has sent a clear message that patients should be the first priority in an ever-changing health care arena. The court's action in support of the ACA helps remind us what's really important -- enabling all Americans to obtain affordable, quality health care."
AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY
The Supremem Court decision is "a victory for people with cancer and their families nationwide, who for decades have been denied health coverage, charged far more than they can afford for lifesaving care and forced to spend their life savings on necessary treatment, simply because they have a pre-existing condition."
So who do you want to trust about this act and your health care - - medical professionals, or the Chamber of Commerce?
AMERICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION
AMA "has long supported health insurance coverage for all, and we are pleased that this decision means millions of Americans can look forward to the coverage they need to get healthy and stay healthy.
"This decision protects important improvements, such as ending coverage denials due to pre-existing conditions and lifetime caps on insurance, and allowing the 2.5 million young adults up to age 26 who gained coverage under the law to stay on their parents' health insurance policies." "The expanded health care coverage upheld by the Supreme Court will allow patients to see their doctors earlier rather than waiting for treatment until they are sicker and care is more expensive. The decision upholds funding for important research on the effectiveness of drugs and treatments and protects expanded coverage for prevention and wellness care, which has already benefited about 54 million Americans."
AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION
The court's decision "will benefit America's heart health for decades to come. Questions about the Affordable Care Act's constitutionality have overshadowed the law's progress. With this ruling, that uncertainty has finally been put to rest.
"By upholding the law, the nation's highest court has sent a clear message that patients should be the first priority in an ever-changing health care arena. The court's action in support of the ACA helps remind us what's really important -- enabling all Americans to obtain affordable, quality health care."
AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY
The Supremem Court decision is "a victory for people with cancer and their families nationwide, who for decades have been denied health coverage, charged far more than they can afford for lifesaving care and forced to spend their life savings on necessary treatment, simply because they have a pre-existing condition."
So who do you want to trust about this act and your health care - - medical professionals, or the Chamber of Commerce?
