Urges support of ‘Small Business and Family Relief Act’

To the editor:

Many small business owners are trying to grow their companies as the country pulls out of the recession, and we need to be supported by Congress and not saddled with new taxes. I am the owner of a general construction company based out of Wasilla who stands opposed to the brand new health insurance provider fee that will unfairly impact small businesses that provide health insurance for their employees.

I have just a few employees, and I’m not able to provide health insurance for them or myself.

Once I get to a staff size of about 10, I would like to provide this benefit. However, the health insurance provider fee (enacted under the Affordable Care Act of 2010) will make this difficult as it would cost me an extra $5,000 per year to insure a staff of that size. Of course, a heavy cost like that would harm my business, as it will other small businesses. Some may be forced to fold as a result, but many will try to hang in there and run their companies as best as they can. Personally, I will do what I have to, but it may affect me down the road when I am looking to hire additional workers.

A tax like this will put small business owners in a predicament where they’ll have to get rid of long-term, loyal employees, which is never a pleasant thing to have to do. In my case, it will slow down my company, impacting my ability to put food on the table for my family and save for my retirement. It’s completely unfair that labor unions and large corporations will not be affected by the health insurance provider fee, and it seems like the government wants to run everything to the detriment of small business owners who are just trying to get by.

Our elected officials must stand up for small business owners who are trying to grow their companies and improve their local communities in the process. We need our representatives and senators in Washington, D.C., to get behind the Small Business and Family Relief Act (HR 3367) and delay the health insurance provider fee for two years, allowing millions of Americans the chance to analyze the harmful impact of the health insurance provider fee. In doing so, Congress might help businesses like mine thrive in the years ahead instead of being slowed down by yet another unfair tax.

James Adams

Owner

Adams Construction