WASHINGTON, D.C. - On Monday the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) started mailing postcards to over four million small businesses and tax-exempt organizations to make them aware of tax credits available under the health reform law. The tax credit, one of the first provisions of health reform to go into effect, is designed to help small businesses afford to offer health insurance coverage for the first time or maintain the coverage they already provide.
Meanwhile, Republicans continue to insist that scrapping health reform is their number one priority - stripping away these tax credits and placing the burden of skyrocketing health costs squarely on the shoulders of small business owners. Democratic Members of the Ways and Means Committee are calling on Republicans to stop putting political ambitions ahead of hard working families and businesses:
Ways and Means Committee Chairman Sander M. Levin (D-MI): “These tax credits will be an important, and immediate tool of reform to help make coverage affordable for small businesses. By helping small businesses start or maintain affordable coverage for their workers, we also help them free up resources for future growth and job creation. These are real, tangible benefits that will have a positive impact and I am confident that the more families and businesses learn about the benefits of reform, the more they’ll reject political appeals to take them away."
Subcommittee on Health Chairman Pete Stark (D-CA): "For a party that can talk about nothing but tax breaks, I'm amused that the Republicans' 'number one priority' includes rolling back tax credits that help small businesses provide health care. One-third of our nation's uninsured work for small businesses. Why do Republicans want to repeal measures that make it easier for those firms to provide coverage?"
Subcommittee on Income Security and Family Support Chairman Jim McDermott (D-WA): “Republicans can’t stop talking about repealing the health legislation, and if they want to be the party responsible for rolling back reforms that will help millions of Americans, then be my guest. If they want to roll back tax credits that will help countless small businesses extend insurance to their employees or make it more affordable, have at it. But as these reforms are actually put in place, Americans will have the chance to see all the beneficial things in this legislation without having to listen to the deafening clamor of the Republican misinformation machine. If I were in their shoes, I would seriously reconsider this approach."
Subcommittee on Oversight Chairman John Lewis (D-GA): “Americans who work for small businesses need health insurance coverage. Small businesses that provide health insurance are struggling to give this benefit to their employees. It makes no sense. It is not in the best interest of the people for anyone to try to repeal the tax credits available to small businesses that provide vital health coverage to their employees."
Subcommittee on Select Revenue Measures Chairman Richard E. Neal (D-MA): “Do Republicans really want to strip away these important credits and essentially raise taxes on small business owners? Republicans in Congress have already been called out for wanting to deny young people health insurance coverage they will receive under the new Age 26 provision. Now it is small business owners who are being targeted. If Republicans continue to put politics ahead of hard working American families and business owners we will continue to call them out on their actions."
Rep. Lloyd Doggett (D-TX): “’Repeal Republicans’ are really urging the repeal of benefits to American workers and small businesses. Our new health reform tax credits will make it easier for companies already offering insurance to afford it and will allow more small businesses to do the right thing and start providing health coverage for their employees."
Democratic Caucus Chairman John B. Larson (D-CT): “Just whose side are Republicans on in this fight? Democrats know we are clearly on the side of small businesses and hard working middle class Americans. That’s why we fought to give small businesses the tax cuts they need to provide health coverage to their employees. Now, Republicans are fighting to repeal those tax cuts and move the American people and the American economy backwards."
Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR): “For the first time ever, millions of Americans will gain access to health care. Essential to this effort is a small business tax credit, one of the first provisions to take effect, which will help businesses cover employees without their bottom lines taking a hit. Small businesses are driving America’s economic recovery, yet Republicans are making it their top priority to kill the small business tax credit and repeal the health care bill. On Monday the IRS notified four million businesses and non-profits that they are eligible for the tax credit. Should Republicans succeed with their scorched earth agenda, small businesses will suffer. It’s still incomprehensible that anyone would not want small businesses to know about the tax credits available to help them insure their workers."
Rep. Ron Kind (D-WI): “Small businesses are the backbone of our economy and deserve our every effort to help them succeed, especially in today’s tough economy. The small business health care tax credits are essential to helping these businesses afford coverage, retain employees and continue to grow, creating jobs in our communities. Efforts to repeal health care reform would only take away these vital benefits and hurt local businesses’ opportunities for future growth."
Rep. Shelley Berkley (D-NV): “The new health reform law gives small businesses in Nevada and across the nation tax credits to help cover the cost of providing affordable coverage to their workers, but opponents are already plotting to repeal this provision. If Republicans are successful, employers will lose this important tax incentive and small businesses will be left to shoulder a greater share of the cost if they provide medical coverage to workers and their families. Taking away financial incentives for small businesses to cover their employees will be bad for workers, bad for families and bad for bottom lines and I oppose any effort to repeal these employer tax credits."
Assistant to the Speaker Chris Van Hollen (D-MD): “Let’s be clear about what Congressional Republicans mean when they say repealing health care reform is their number one priority. They mean the first thing they want to do is take away tax credits from four million small businesses. More than creating jobs or holding Wall Street accountable, they want to take back health care from young adults and allow health insurance companies to go back to discriminating against children with pre-existing conditions. If GOP leaders think this is what Americans want, they are completely out of touch with the needs of working families."
Rep. Allyson Schwartz (D-PA): “Are Republicans really going to fight tooth and nail to raise taxes on America’s small businesses? Repealing health care reform means denying billions of dollars in tax cuts to our nation’s small businesses. At a time when unemployment is the single biggest issue in our country and American businesses are being crippled by skyrocketing health care costs, Republicans are spending all their time and energy trying to repeal tax cuts that will help small businesses provide affordable coverage to their employees and allow them to hire new workers."
Rep. Danny Davis (D-IL): “The 7th Congressional District of Illinois is rich in health care resources with more than 20 hospitals and more than 90 community health centers. Yet we have a significant and disproportionate number of constituents who work but do not receive basic health services for themselves and their families because their employers cannot afford to provide health insurance. The small business health care tax credits will not only help create the opportunity to provide affordable health care for employees and their families, but will make employees more productive and businesses more competitive."
Rep. Bob Etheridge (D-NC): “North Carolina has more than 124,000 small businesses and tax exempt organizations who can benefit from the health care tax credit in 2010. I will fight to defeat the effort to repeal a benefit that cuts health insurance costs for small businesses."
Rep. Linda Sanchez (D-CA): “Republican calls to repeal healthcare in an effort to cover up their own lack of ideas have become laughable. Americans aren’t laughing - they’re ready to take advantage of good tax credits and affordable healthcare."
Rep. John Yarmuth (D-KY): “The same Congressional Republicans who have sought for years to secure tax breaks for big corporations and the wealthiest Americans are now scheming to repeal tax cuts for small businesses - the true engines of job creation in this country."
