On the recordJuly 31, 2013
I come to the floor with a letter from a constituent, a businessman, and I will just read parts of it: I did not need to read about the ObamaCare health insurance tax increase that will be passed on to small businesses. It has already happened to my small firm. Last week I was advised by my insurance agent that Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois is increasing my rates by more than 38 percent. I want to relay to you that due to a decrease in business, likely caused by uncertainty of our future, I have had to release one employee and have advised all remaining employees that the increase of health insurance premiums will be passed on to them. I was proudly able to pay 100 percent of employees' health care coverage, but after two consecutive 20 percent increases in the last two years, and the latest 40 percent increase, simple business logic requires that I pass on this increase or simply go out of business. My employees will have less take-home pay under ObamaCare. Does anyone in Congress realize that under this still uncertain program, it is more logical for me to shut down my business and take the subsidies on one of the exchanges than to remain open? ____________________
