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California Small Business Association Supports Broad-Based Funding for Health Care Reform

Posted on: Wednesday, 29 August 2007, 15:12 CDT

The California Small Business Association (CSBA) announced today that it is joining the California Restaurant Association (CRA) in supporting a ballot initiative to create a 1 cent sales tax to fund comprehensive health care reform. CSBA, which represents over 200,000 small businesses in the state, supports a sales tax because it will provide a stable source of revenue, which coupled with cost controls, will ensure that small businesses, their employees and dependents have access to affordable, quality health care.

"We are committed to working with CRA and other stakeholders to ensure that Californians have access to affordable health care," said Betty Jo Toccoli, president of the California Small Business Association. "We believe that a 1 cent sales tax is the most equitable way to pay for health care reform as every Californian will be contributing to the system as well as benefiting from the system."

CSBA supports controlling skyrocketing health care costs and funding health care reform through "shared responsibility" which is encompassed in a sales tax.

"We are opposed to an employer mandate, such as Assembly Bill 8, because it will place an undue burden on small business owners and their employees," continued Toccoli. "We cannot afford to implement a plan that will force businesses to lay off workers or close their doors. We must work together to promote a reliable source of funding that encompasses the principles that Governor Schwarzenegger and other stakeholders have endorsed."

"Small businesses with employees have different needs than small businesses without employees," said Toccoli. "Many of the current plans do not cover the self-employed. Any reform of the health care system needs to cover all small businesses and the best way to this is through a sales tax....not a payroll tax as the self-employed do not have a payroll."

The California Small Business Association was founded in 1980 by the California delegates to the White House Conference on Small Business. CSBA advocates on behalf of small businesses at the state and federal level, conducts research on issues and develops policies that benefit small businesses.

Source: Business Wire

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