Small firms say no health reform, no insurance
As Utahn Betsy Burton participated Tuesday in a White House conference on how health-care reform may affect small businesses, she found she and the administration agree that health insurance will soon be unaffordable unless reform passes soon.
"Health care has really gotten so out of hand economically for small business that it's not sustainable any more. It's over a third of our payroll," said Burton, owner of the King's English Bookshop.
"Years ago, when we started out, it was 5 percent, then 10 percent. It's been ratcheting up to the point that I have to make a choice between dropping health care or going out of business," she said.
Small-business owners from around the nation were invited to the White House to talk about such effects Tuesday, including Utahns Burton; Dulci Beaslin, owner of Nail Jazz in Holladay; and Murray Chamber of Commerce President Scott Baker.
"We don't have health care at Nail Jazz, and we can't afford to offer it," Beaslin said. "I would love to be able to do that. Right now, my family and I also do not have insurance." She said the only way she sees that it may become affordable is if reform passes.
Burton added, "We're not alone. That's pretty much across the board what small businesses are seeing. We have no bargaining power because we are small, and prices are going up 20 percent a year. The future looks darker, not brighter."
Both Burton and Beaslin say they see health-care reform as the only potential savior for small business when it comes to affording health insurance.
"This is our chance. If health-care reform happens, and if it happens now, there's time to salvage the situation," Burton said.
"I honestly believe that if something isn't done, small businesses will start going out of business quite rapidly all across the country. And if they think health-care reform is expensive, if a millions of small businesses start going broke, the effect on the economy will be more catastrophic than anything that's happened yet," she said.
"I think it's absolutely vital that we do something now," Burton said.
e-mail: lee@desnews.com
Recent comments
I admire Betsy Burton and have for years. Great bookstore and great...
She's in error | Nov. 7, 2009 at 11:04 a.m.
Maybe if the state and federal government would involve themselves in...
Health care out of control. | Nov. 7, 2009 at 4:03 a.m.
Healthcare is not expensive because of the high cost of insurance....
CPK | Nov. 6, 2009 at 9:59 p.m.
- Blog: Stat-freak alert: Hollinger... 5:31 p.m.
- Blog: What to get that finicky... 5:14 p.m.
- Blog: That's a wrap on gift wrap? 5:09 p.m.
- BYU grad goes nomad 4:48 p.m.
- Iraq war vet bank robber sentenced 4:44 p.m.
- License requirements change Jan. 1 4:42 p.m.
- Alta subdivision denial leads to suit 4:41 p.m.
- Accord reached in Copenhagen 4:02 p.m.
- Tech stocks stop market slide 3:48 p.m.
- Charges filed in stalking Ben and Jen 3:39 p.m.
- Susan Powell's family saddened
- Police: Murder/suicide premeditated
- 4 people found slain in W. Jordan
- Oregon State helped refine Bronco
- Barkley grills D-Will about 'tension'
- Football forecast as predicted
- Frances Monson recovering well
- 'Avatar' a visual feast, but plot fails
- Parents rally behind fired teacher
- Cleopatra relic lifted from sea
- Here are Max Hall's Top 10 wins
176 - It's official; Heaps signs with BYU
172 - Susan Powell's family saddened
163 - Conan mocks Orrin Hatch, Mormons
156 - Letters: 'Liberal conceit'
144 - Susan Powell notebook seized
115 - Jazz stunned by Timberwolves
114 - Josh Powell meets with WVC police
109 - Letters: Explaining Palin
106 - Sources: Josh Powell hires attorney
100
High schoolers are a particularly difficult group to buy for, as their...
For the latest news in the health care debate and how it affects you...
I didn't say America became communist. And I think you quoted me, thus my...
is it about 2900 pages worth??? Good job Mr. B+!!!
I'd rather NOT watch BYU games if those lousy announcers (Bill Reilly -...
"Now, ask me if I use 3,000 tons of them." Given the number of comments...
I love basketball and wrestling. I chose wrestling over basketball in high...
Williams,Maynor Gay,Matthews...
Depleted uranium contains much less U-235 as natural uranium but it is not...
To Tragic: Gun control only takes guns from LAW ABIDING citizens. It won't...
Let's hope Heaps turns out just a little bit better than the last No. 1 prep...
LBSU is a more athletic team than St Mary's, who is picked to challenge or...

