On October 20, 2009

Small Business Health Reform Roundup

Several news items today on health reform and small business:

  • The Senate Small Business Committee this morning heard from small business stakeholders about what kind of health reform they want to see. You can watch the hearing and download testimony here.
  • Committee chair Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-La.) makes the case on MSNBC for a national exchange. Landrieu, a moderate Dem, and Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-Maine), the ranking Republican of the small biz committee, are worth watching. Snowe, who voted for the Senate Finance bill in committee, is the Democrats’ best chance to pass a bill with a fig leaf of bipartisanship.
  • The White House just put out a new report making the case that health reform will benefit small business.
  • Senate Democrats expect to hammer out most differences between the two Senate versions (Finance and HELP committees) this week. The details of any public option or employer mandate could be decided in the next few days.
  • Massachusetts mulls ways to keep premiums for small businesses in check after criticism that the state’s mandates (which apply to companies with 11 or more full-time equivalents) are too burdensome.

Anything we missed? Let us know. And stay on top of government news with our new Small Business Policy Ticker.

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