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Small business health bill
offers welfare, not solutions
The House of
Representatives voted 57-41 Wednesday to approve a bill that would
expand government-subsidized health care for low-income employees of
small businesses, but would do nothing to lower the cost of health
insurance plans for those businesses.
Rep. Barbara Bailey, who voted against House Bill 2572, said the measure
seeks to expand government-run health care by offering welfare to those
who are unable to afford the high cost of health insurance. However, the
measure offers no solutions that would bring down the cost of private
health insurance to affordable levels.
"This bill continues to put up barriers. It doesn’t solve the problem.
It isn’t providing solutions. Instead of providing a solution, it’s
going to provide welfare. It’s going to give money to people who can’t
afford to pay for their insurance," said Bailey, R-Oak Harbor. "We need
to open doors of opportunity for people to be able to buy affordable
health insurance. That would help solve the problem."
Bailey offered several amendments that would lead to lower costs for
health insurance. One would have created an independent study to
determine the costs and benefits of health care mandates.
"If we don’t know what it is that increases costs in the insurance
market, then how can we really make a solid decision? We will just
continue to bat it back and forth. Some will say it’s a mandate that
costs money. Others will say it’s administration that costs money. Why
don’t we study the insurance market now and find out where the true
costs are?" asked Bailey, a member of the House Health Care Committee.
"Some people say the insurance companies are hiding costs and not being
truthful with us. Let’s go find out. Why can’t we study it?"
The amendment was defeated 56-42.
Another amendment offered by Bailey, also rejected, would have allowed
carriers to offer an option of health insurance benefits to employers.
"Small employers want a
partnership with their insurance company. They really don’t want a
partnership with the state. This amendment would allow that partnership
to go forward by allowing some products to be put into the marketplace
that would lower our insurance costs for small employers," noted Bailey.
"This proposal would help to provide affordable health insurance in the
marketplace, the state would not have to spend one dime. Why should we
subsidize an industry when we can provide the solution by passing good
policy?"
Bailey said in addition to costing taxpayers more money through
increased government subsidies, HB 2572 falls short of its goal of
providing health insurance for the uninsured.
"This measure will make 2,000 more people dependent upon government for
their health care. It does nothing for the other 598,000 uninsured in
Washington. I’ve offered some very meaningful alternatives that would
bring down the costs of health insurance so that employers can afford to
provide coverage for their employees. This bill is not a solution," said
Bailey. "I really wish we would solve the problem here instead of
throwing money at it and taking one more step toward socialized
medicine."
Although Bailey’s amendment that would have helped people set up
tax-free health savings accounts was defeated 55-43, the House later
approved a measure she co-sponsored that would allow health savings
accounts for public employees. House Bill 1383 was approved 88-10.
Both measures now go to the Senate for further consideration.
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For more information, contact:
John
Handy, Assistant Director: (360) 786-5758
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