FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – March 9, 2010

Contacts:
Blair Latoff 202-463-5682 (U.S. Chamber of Commerce)
Jade West 202-872-0885 (National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors)
E. Neil Trautwein 202-626-8170 (National Retail Federation)

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The Employers for a Healthy Economy and Start Over! coalitions today launched a new television ad urging Congress to begin listening to the American people and start over to get health care reform right. The ad, entitled “Afford,” urges Senators not to jam current legislation through with a simple majority vote that will raise taxes, increase premiums, and not address the rising costs of health care. “Afford” will air on national cable and in 17 states.

“There is absolutely no substantive improvement in the latest iteration of health care legislation from the previous attempts that have been soundly rejected by the business community and the American people,” said Bruce Josten, executive vice president of Government Affairs for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. “All the problems discussed with previous versions are true of this bill: tax increases, Medicare cuts, job killing mandates, and an almost willful neglect for cost containment.”

“The Administration and the Congressional Majority have rejected any number of reasonable health care reform ideas, ignored the public which opposes their mission, and now threatens to twist the rules of the Senate to effectively silence all dissent,” said Jade West, senior vice president of Government Relations for the National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors. “It is time for Washington to start over and get it right.”

“This latest of a long series of arbitrary deadlines still can’t hide the fact that Congress has the wrong prescription for health care reform,” said Steve Pfister, senior vice president of Government Relations for the National Retail Federation.

"Afford"

Americans still losing jobs… more businesses struggling…

We thought Washington understood.

But this week Congress is trying to use special rules... to ram
through their same trillion dollar health care bill.

Billions in new taxes… more mandates on businesses.

Health care costs will go even higher, making a tough economy... worse.

Washington’s not getting the message.

Tell Congress. Stop this health care bill we can’t
afford to pay.

The coalitions are made up of 248 leading employer associations representing hundreds of thousands of businesses of all sizes from all 50 states and nearly every sector of the economy. These organizations are committed to fundamentally changing the health care system by expanding access to coverage for all Americans, lowering costs and improving care, without shifting those costs to the private sector. A full list of members can be found at: www.employersforahealthyeconomy.com