OKLAHOMA CITY – The State Chamber of Oklahoma Wednesday joined more than 740 organizations in a letter to federal leaders urging a health care overhaul restart. The letter asks House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid to not merge House and Senate-passed bills.
The letter was sent by large and small businesses and business organizations asking Pelosi and Reid to enact legislation that will bend the cost curve for health care, improve the long-term fiscal outlook for federal and state governments, increase value in America’s health care system and facilitate long-term economic recovery.
“At no time in this long debate has it been more important than now to take a fresh look to make sure that health reform will achieve its intended goals,” the letter states.
Richard P. Rush, president of The State Chamber of Oklahoma, said Tuesday’s senate race in Massachusetts is more proof that Americans are not happy with current legislation.
“Now is a good time to hit the reset button,” Rush said. “Merging two bills containing 4,000 pages of new laws which could seriously damageAmerican business is pure insanity. We need to create jobs, not destroy them.”
Rush pointed to weakening poll numbers in support of the current health care bills and an outcry of businesses and every day Americans asking for new debate on the overhaul.
“American families cannot take more pressure when it comes to their budget,” Rush said. “From Oklahoma to the nation, families are demanding that our federal leaders get this right.”
To view the letter from the business coalition, visit http://www.okstatechamber.com/additional/pdf/Pelosi_Reid_HealthcareLetter_1_2010.pdf.
The State Chamber of Oklahoma: Representing more than 2,000 Oklahoma businesses and 400,000 employees, The State Chamber of Oklahoma has been the state’s leading advocate for business since 1926. For more information, visit www.okstatechamber.com.
Updated 01-20-2010
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