Senate Decision to Move Forward With ACA Repeal is Terrible News for Small Businesses

The U.S. Senate’s vote to open debate on several proposals that would repeal the Affordable Care Act (ACA) is the latest in a growing line of irresponsible decisions by lawmakers who seem to have no regard for the wellbeing of small businesses that are the lifeblood of the U.S. economy. Without the ACA, health insurance would be less accessible for small employers and aspiring entrepreneurs because it would cause premiums to skyrocket, scale back Medicaid expansion and tax credits that have helped cover entrepreneurs and small business employees and end protections for those with pre-existing conditions.

Every Congressional Budget Office estimate of Republican plans to repeal the ACA has painted a bleak picture of our nation’s healthcare future. Under the “best” of these plans, more than 20 million people would lose their health insurance and premiums would increase by more than 20 percent on average next year, which would be detrimental to small businesses, their employees and self-employed entrepreneurs who have gained coverage under the law. We also know that ending the ACA would cost our economy one million jobs.  

It's not too late to do the right thing for our nation's small businesses. That can only happen, however, if the Senate immediately abandons the reckless and wrong idea that the ACA is somehow bad for small businesses and instead works on a bipartisan solution to improve the healthcare law so that America’s job creators can maintain their place as a vital part of our economy.