[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 48 (Thursday, April 28, 1994)]
[Senate]
[Page S]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: April 28, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                   AN EMPLOYER MANDATE WILL COST JOBS

  (Mr. McMILLAN asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. McMILLAN. Mr. Speaker, if an employer mandate were to pass, my 
State would lose 24,685 jobs.
  Study after study has shown that if an employer payment mandate is 
used as a means of financing health care reform millions of jobs would 
be lost. A recent study commissioned by the American Legislative 
Exchange Council [ALEC], the Nation's largest bipartisan organization 
of State legislators, found that the Health Security Act would cost 
America 1,021,000 jobs. Other studies suggest the amount of job loss 
may be as high as 3.1 million.
  This level of job loss is unacceptable particularly now that the 
economy is struggling to recover. We have seen significant 
restructuring as employers have positioned themselves to compete in an 
increasingly global economy. At the very time that they are beginning 
to see some improvement in their competitive position, this Congress is 
considering a payment mandate which will negate all of their gains.
  We should not be pitting jobs against health insurance. No one is 
served by the promise of health insurance at the expense of millions of 
jobs. Under today's 100 percent voluntary system, the vast majority of 
America's employers offer comprehensive health insurance benefits. 
Reform should focus on enabling all employers to offer comprehensive 
benefits.
  A mandate is not necessary to achieve successful reform. There are so 
many issues upon which there is broad bipartisan support and we should 
be moving to address the real world problems our constituents face. 
Drop the employer mandate and enact real bipartisan health care reform.

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