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Durbin, Halvorson take on healthcare
Matthew Tomlin, Daily Vidette Staff Writer
Issue date: 10/9/08 Section: News
U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin and State Sen. Debbie Halvorson met with small business leaders Wednesday in Uptown Normal to discuss legislation Durbin authored that is designed to increase the affordability and accessibility of health insurance to Illinois' 1.8 million small business employees as well as a half-million of Illinois' self employed.
"I think we have potential," Durbin said. "This is the most unusual coalition I've been a part of, it's labor, it's business, it's bipartisan. I think we have a real chance."
Halvorson said that in order to continue to compete in the global economy, we need to fix our health insurance. "This is the only kind of coalition that I believe can start the conversation," she added.
Normal Mayor and owner of Vitesse Cycle Shop and Often Running specialty stores, Chris Koos, was among the small business leaders.
"I have known some local business people who have decided to abandon their business and go back to work because of the cost of health care," he said.
Durbin's legislation, The Small Business Health Option Program or, SHOP, tackles of the costliness of providing employee health care.
SHOP will let small businesses join together in a statewide or nationwide pool. By spreading the risk with more participants, health insurance prices will go down.
"It sounds like a good idea to have small businesses pooling the employees' resources together so they can buy healthcare that is cheaper," Michael Richeson, a senior political science major and intern with the Brian Plath campaign, said.
"They could be potentially unable to get insurance if they have preconditions."
SHOP will offer a range of private health plans that will be required to compete for business, keeping prices lower.
"I think it's the responsibility of the federal government to step up when the private sector can't fully cover," Chris Williamson, a senior history education major, said.
Williamson explained that it won't be the end all to the healthcare crisis, but said it's a "step in the right direction to make healthcare more affordable and accessible."
According to a Halvorson press release, SHOP will also provide small business owners with a bonus tax credit if they pay for more than 60 percent of the premiums.
The press release also stated that SHOP will provide small business owners with an annual tax credit of up to $1,000 per employee if they pay 60 percent of their employees' premiums.
"We incentivize and reward good business conduct," Durbin explained.
"Healthcare is a feature in that crunch that has become the cornerstone of our economy. The best thing we can do is sit down and have a dialogue with all parties involved," Erik Rankin, a political science professor and 9th district county board candidate, said.
"I think we have potential," Durbin said. "This is the most unusual coalition I've been a part of, it's labor, it's business, it's bipartisan. I think we have a real chance."
Halvorson said that in order to continue to compete in the global economy, we need to fix our health insurance. "This is the only kind of coalition that I believe can start the conversation," she added.
Normal Mayor and owner of Vitesse Cycle Shop and Often Running specialty stores, Chris Koos, was among the small business leaders.
"I have known some local business people who have decided to abandon their business and go back to work because of the cost of health care," he said.
Durbin's legislation, The Small Business Health Option Program or, SHOP, tackles of the costliness of providing employee health care.
SHOP will let small businesses join together in a statewide or nationwide pool. By spreading the risk with more participants, health insurance prices will go down.
"It sounds like a good idea to have small businesses pooling the employees' resources together so they can buy healthcare that is cheaper," Michael Richeson, a senior political science major and intern with the Brian Plath campaign, said.
"They could be potentially unable to get insurance if they have preconditions."
SHOP will offer a range of private health plans that will be required to compete for business, keeping prices lower.
"I think it's the responsibility of the federal government to step up when the private sector can't fully cover," Chris Williamson, a senior history education major, said.
Williamson explained that it won't be the end all to the healthcare crisis, but said it's a "step in the right direction to make healthcare more affordable and accessible."
According to a Halvorson press release, SHOP will also provide small business owners with a bonus tax credit if they pay for more than 60 percent of the premiums.
The press release also stated that SHOP will provide small business owners with an annual tax credit of up to $1,000 per employee if they pay 60 percent of their employees' premiums.
"We incentivize and reward good business conduct," Durbin explained.
"Healthcare is a feature in that crunch that has become the cornerstone of our economy. The best thing we can do is sit down and have a dialogue with all parties involved," Erik Rankin, a political science professor and 9th district county board candidate, said.
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