Shaheen releases health care plan for small businesses
By Brian Lawson, PolitickerNH.com ReporterTILTON - Sitting in a small faculty room at a child daycare center Tuesday, former Gov. Jeanne Shaheen (D-Madbury) purposed a five-point plan to help lower the cost of health care costs for small businesses.
Shaheen's plan would provide a tax credit to small businesses that provide health care to employees, lower the cost of prescription drugs, boost preventive care programs, increase the use of electronic medical records and reduce medication errors.
"As middle-class families have been squeezed and as small businesses find it harder to provide coverage to our employees, we haven't seen action on the federal level," Shaheen said at Tilton's Whole Child Center.
Shaheen also used the opportunity to argue that her opponent, U.S. Sen. John Sununu (R-Waterville Valley), is on the side of insurance companies.
"When it comes to New Hampshire and our representation, what we've seen from John Sununu is that he continues to put the needs of insurance companies over the needs of New Hampshire families."
Shaheen cited a 2006 Concord Monitor story which quoted Sununu telling business leaders to "stop complaining about health care."
"This may be the most bizarre recommendation, but I am sincere," Sununu was quoted as saying. "I'm not saying it's not an issue or it's not important, but proportionally speaking, stop complaining about health care."
Earlier this year Sununu co-sponsored legislation that he says would lower the cost of health care for small businesses.
The bill, "The Making Health Care More Affordable Act," would provide a tax credit to individuals and allow small businesses to join together and buy health coverage.
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Shaheen doesn't get it
Shaheen and the Democrats just don't get it. The key to bringing health insurance costs down is to have individuals buy it - not employers. Offer the individual a choice of any health plan in the nation, with any options they want (i.e. does not have to include every type of coverage) and provide a tax credit to help pay for it. Let the free market work and get the government out of it. Employers don't provide auto insurance or homeowners insurance. Why on earth should they be on the hook for health insurance. Let the consumers decide.
Universal Health Care
The key to bringing health care costs down is to provide a level of care at no cost for all Americans. The concept of universal health care for all of our citizens is as important to the future of our nation as is a strong economy and a strong education system.
Just as with public education, there should be a level of health care that is available for everyone -- whether they can afford it, or not -- and many American families cannot afford any current level of health care, or the "co-pays" that go with most coverage.
Health-care-for-all might not be able to include heart transplants or certain other procedures or medications, but at least health-care-for-all could provide many of the basic health care needs of our citizens.
THAT is what our candidates of all political parties should be considering. And on an annual basis it would cost much less than the invasion of Iraq.
more nonsense from Jim Splaine
Jim, public education has failed for 30 years and needs to be dismantled. We built the strongest, free-est, and best educated nation on Earth without the help of the government, and look what happened once government got involved.
The same with healthcare. The LAST thing we need is more involvement from government!
Jeanne Shaheen
Seeing as though Shaheen is running to be the unofficial 3rd senator from MA judging by all the MA teamsters and MA volunteers she's had at recent events. I'm not surprised she would like to see a MA-esque health care plan instituted as well..
Typical Shaheen Tries the 'Clinton' Solution
True to form, Shaheen has looked for answers from 'Coach' Clinton. She just doesn't get it. Government + Health Care = Disaster!
And how do you propose to pay, regulate and administer this mass mediocrity Gov. Shaheen? Proceeds from your winning lawsuit against OPEC I assume.
How we survived with this mentality in the state house for 6 years I'll never know.
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