[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 14]
[House]
[Page 18493]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                        MORE CREATIVE SOLUTIONS

  (Mr. FORTENBERRY asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. FORTENBERRY. Mr. Speaker, as Congress takes on the essential task 
of strengthening America's health care system, we have a choice here to 
either rush legislation costing more than $1 trillion or to have a 
serious analysis on the fundamental question as to how we actually 
improve health care outcomes, reduce costs, and protect vulnerable 
persons.
  One major consideration should be how any health care proposal will 
affect small businesses. Small businesses generate 60 to 80 percent of 
all new jobs each year in this country. In my hometown of Lincoln, 
Nebraska, 80 percent of those in the private sector are employed in 
businesses with 25 or fewer employees.
  This current plan would place an 8 percent payroll tax on certain 
small businesses who do not or cannot provide government-mandated 
coverage.
  Mr. Speaker, one study suggests that as many as 4.7 million jobs 
could be lost as a direct result of this overall health care proposal. 
This does not help anyone.
  There are more creative solutions to get people the care they need, 
help families manage ever-increasing costs, and help small business 
entrepreneurs provide the benefits for their employees.

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