EDMOND — As Congress moves closer to solidifying a health care reform package, one thing is clear: the Democrats’ takeover of health care is bad for small businesses.
H.R. 3200, the health care bill currently in the House, has a price tag of almost one trillion dollars. As our national debt climbs to over $9 trillion, the only way to pay for this legislation is by raising taxes. Speaker Pelosi and Chairman Waxman plan to enact a $544 billion tax on the so-called “rich” to offset the massive cost of their new program. However, according to the IRS, more than half of those targeted under this new tax are small business owners. In addition, they want to impose a $208 billion tax on businesses that cannot afford to pay for their employees’ health care.
Instead of calling this health care reform, perhaps Speaker Pelosi and Chairman Waxman should call this legislation what it really is: a massive tax on small businesses during one of the worst economic recessions of our time.
In addition to this being a dramatic hardship on our American small businesses, this tax would be devastating to the American worker. Small businesses represent more than 99 percent of all businesses in this country and have historically employed half of the American workforce. In addition, in the past, they have created more than 72 percent of new jobs across the country. So a hardship for them quickly translates into jobs lost and no new jobs created. In fact, it’s estimated that these new taxes will result in an estimated 5.5 million jobs lost. As the national unemployment rate continues to sit just below 10 percent, is this really a time to enact a massive, job-killing tax?
The American health care system is the best in the world, but there is always room for improvement. We need a solution for those who cannot afford health insurance. We need a solution for those who do not have access to health care. But that does not mean we need to completely alter our health care system and put it under the control of the federal government.
Frank Lucas represents Oklahoma’s Third Congressional District in the United States House of Representatives. For more Frankly Speakings, please visit Rep. Lucas’ Blog at http://www.house.gov/
lucas/franklyspeaking/index.shtml.
Opinion
Government run health care not what the doctor ordered for small
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OUR VIEW: Feb. 14 vote about ideas
If you read any of the letters to the editor in the past two weeks regarding Tuesday’s District 2 Edmond school board race, then you already know that this election is not about the individual candidates so much as it’s about what type of school board do Edmond residents really want governing their school district?
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What are your presidential 10 Commandments?
As we brace for the upcoming presidential campaign, we should be honest about our responsibility in the process. Before we get pushed, pulled, bribed, frightened, bullied, flattered, fooled or charmed into voting for a candidate, let’s take a mature thoughtful look at what the profile of the president should look like. In order to do that, let’s do an exercise. Sit down with a pencil and paper and draft your proposal for the Ten Commandments to be obeyed by the president. Let me share some of my suggestions.
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What would Reagan do today in Oklahoma?
As we celebrated the 101st anniversary of Ronald Reagan’s birth on Feb. 6, several of us at Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs started discussing what Reagan might do today. Here are some of the ideas we came up with.
- LETTER: School counselor says Roy ready to help all students
- LETTER: Supporter calls Duncan 'a firecracker'
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Consequences of an overregulated nation
Overreaching government regulations are costing jobs and killing our economy. They are a heavy burden on our nation and its citizens — in some cases worse than our nation’s increasingly out-of-control debt.
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LETTER: Supporter: Duncan shows passion for children’s needs
To the Editor:
The families in the Edmond Public School District are fortunate to have Kathleen Duncan as their advocate on the Edmond Board of Education. Duncan has worked tirelessly for the welfare and benefit of the Edmond schools’ students. -
LETTER: Teacher supports Duncan’s re-election
To the Editor:
On Feb. 14 patrons of District 2 have an opportunity to re-elect the current president of the Edmond School Board, Kathleen Duncan. Duncan has served as a board member for 10 years. When people move to the Oklahoma City area, they buy a home here because of the exceptional quality of Edmond Public Schools. This speaks to Duncan’s goal of “Excellence in Education for All Edmond Public School Students.” -
LETTER: Supporter: Duncan understands diverse issues
To the Editor:
Kathleen Duncan understands the diverse issues that effect our schools. She carefully studies the district’s issues and works tirelessly as an advocate for all students. Her votes as a board member have an impact for years to come and she takes that responsibility very seriously. - LETTER: Reader says incumbent's personal agenda in the way
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OUR VIEW: Feb. 14 vote about ideas
