Small Business Shouldn't Be Punished For Health Care Reform

Floor Speech

Mr. FLEMING. Mr. Speaker, I have been a family physician for over 30 years, and that is why I believe the Democrat health care reform proposals being circulated in Congress right now are bad for American families, bad for American seniors, and bad for American small businesses.

If we allow a government takeover of health care, a $544 billion surtax is going to be imposed on the so-called rich to pay for this awful plan. Who are these ``rich'' people, Mr. Speaker? They are small business owners. Small businesses create 7 out of 10 jobs, yet we are about to cripple employers and guarantee that the 10 percent unemployment rate that we currently face will only continue to rise. The result of these new taxes on jobs will be the loss of an estimated 5.5 million jobs.

Overall, Americans will suffer $820 billion in new taxes; another broken promise by the President. Democrats also want to impose another $208 billion in new taxes on businesses that can't afford to pay for their employees' health care.

Why are Democrats pushing a government takeover of health care?

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