On
the anniversary of the signing of the landmark U.S. health care law, the
Associated Builders and Contractors wants Congress to jettison it.
“Since this bill was signed into law, small business owners
have watched insurance premiums increase, and in some cases their plans
discontinued, forcing some to purchase more expensive policies or drop their
coverage,” said 2011 ABC National Chairman Michael J. Uremovich, president of
Great Lakes Energy Consultants LL in Manhattan, Ill. “Ultimately, this law
fails to curb the cost of health care coverage and imposes new taxes and costly
and burdensome federal government mandates on small businesses, including
construction contractors.”
The association had opposed the bill throughout its debate
and passage.
“For years, ABC has been calling on Congress to advance
common-sense, free-market proposals that address the skyrocketing costs of
health insurance, especially for employer-sponsored plans, as well as the
rapidly rising number of uninsured Americans,” Uremovich said. “ABC believes
true reform should provide greater choice and affordability and allow private
insurers to compete for business.
“We urge Congress to repeal this health care law that has
only served to hurt small businesses and increased premiums for millions of
Americans,” Uremovich said.
The U.S. House, now under Republican control, voted 245-189 to
repeal the law Jan. 19. The bill is not expected to advance in the
Democratic-controlled Senate, and President Barack Obama said he opposes the
repeal effort. A number of states have also filed suit against the law, saying
the insurance mandate within it is unconstitutional.
