Michael Burgess: “American business owners, large and small, have been telling the majority in this body for months that these health care…”

“American business owners, large and small, have been telling the majority in this body for months that these health care bills were flawed and there is going to be a cost. There's going to be a cost in money--a lot of it--and a cost in jobs. AT&T had to restate earnings, lowering their earnings projections to $1 billion for the first quarter; John Deere & Co. $150 million, and it goes on and on. The National Federation of Independent Business have said that the complicated and restrictive tax credits included in the bill actually help no one. And paperwork and increases in Medicare costs will cost small businesses millions of dollars and, in fact, cost the country millions of jobs. Democrats claim that because of this new law, small businesses will no longer have to choose between hiring new employees and offering health insurance. Well, that's fantasy, and we all recognize that. Right now, small businesses across the country are making the decision that right now is not the time to hire. There is simply too much uncertainty that is created by this bill. It should be no surprise that this bill will cost American companies millions of dollars. It will cost Americans millions of jobs. But Democrats express shock and disbelief when businesses, large and small, say the bill will cost them millions. That is just simply an inconvenient truth.”