Wayne Allard: “I am going to speak under morning business on Senate bill 1955, the small business health plans legislation that is…”

“I am going to speak under morning business on Senate bill 1955, the small business health plans legislation that is going to be before us shortly for formal debate. I come to the floor to talk about a piece of legislation that is important to my Colorado constituents. I would like to talk about the Health Insurance Marketplace Modernization Act, sometimes known as HIMMA. This legislation, which is also known as the small business health plans bill, would allow for small businesses to come together to form a group which could then use their combined purchasing power to influence insurance companies for affordable health plans. It has been suggested that those who serve in the Senate have no understanding of what small business folks are going through and that most of us have never been faced with the reality of having no health insurance and therefore don't understand the plight of the small businessman. I come to dispel that rumor. I am a former small businessman who couldn't afford the cost of health insurance for myself or for my employees. My wife and I discussed options for ourselves and for our employees. Similar to many other small business owners across the country, we decided it would be better to raise our employees' rate of pay and allow them to purchase their own individual plans.…”