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OPA News Release: [02/21/2003]
Contact Name: Sue
Hensley
Phone Number: (202) 693-4676
Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao Meets with Missouri
Small-Business Owners
Roundtable Discussion Centers on President’s
Tax-Relief and AHP Proposals
WASHINGTON—U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine Chao today
participated in a roundtable discussion with approximately 20 National
Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) members to discuss how President Bush’s tax-relief plan, as
well as legislation to create Association Health Plans (AHPs) would affect
Missouri’s Main Street businesses. The National Federation of Independent
Business is the nation’s largest small-business advocacy group.
“Small business is the backbone of our economy because they create
the majority of new jobs. The President’s health reform proposals offer a
comprehensive solution to enable more families to access affordable, quality
health insurance,” said Chao. “The President’s tax relief
program will spur short term relief and long term sustainable economic growth;
it will aid creation of new jobs and expand the reach of prosperity to all
Americans.”
Last month, President Bush announced a comprehensive growth and jobs
package that places great emphasis on improved job growth to ensure the economy
itself continues to grow. The main goals of this economic agenda are to
encourage consumer spending that will continue to boost the economic recovery;
promote investment by individuals and businesses that will lead to economic
growth and job creation; and delivery critical help to unemployed citizens.
The health reforms proposed by President Bush would create AHPs that
will provide millions of small business owners and their employees access to
quality, affordable health care. AHPs would achieve savings for small
businesses through greater bargaining power, economies of scale, and
administrative efficiencies. Sixty percent of employees employed by a small
business do not have health insurance for themselves and their families.
According to the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office, AHPs will lower
health insurance premiums by 13 percent and provide health insurance to as many
as two million Americans who are currently uninsured.
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