I missed this last week. The Montana Contractors’ Association has harshly criticized the U.S. Senate’s health care legislation because it says it “singles out small construction firms for harsher treatment than any other industry.”
The MCS says that the bill would make construction companies that employ as few as five people “subject to health care coverage fines” and has asked that the provision be removed before Congress passes it. From the MCA Executive Director Cary Hegreberg:
“We are very disappointed that Senators Baucus and Tester did not catch this detrimental provision of the bill. We are certainly hopeful they can get it removed before final passage.”
Here’s the entire press release from MCA:
AMENDMENT TO HEALTH CARE LEGISLATION VERY HARMFUL TO SMALL CONTRACTORS
HELENA—The Montana Contractors’ Association has voiced its dismay about new language added last-minute to Senate health care legislation that singles out small construction firms for harsher treatment than any other industry.
Echoing the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC), the MCA expressed its frustration with the addition that would make construction firms employing as few as five workers subject to health care coverage fines.
“This is especially bad for contractors in Montana, many of whom really are small family-run businesses,” noted MCA Executive Director Cary Hegreberg. “With construction unemployment nationwide already at 19.4 percent, and construction unemployment in Montana running 17 percent, the highest of any sector in our state, this decision comes at a very damaging time. In the past year, Montana has lost hundreds of construction jobs, and this amendment will increase those numbers.”
Hegreberg pointed out that many family-owned firms already provide comprehensive health insurance for their employees, and this legislation will devastate many of them. “We are very disappointed that Senators Baucus and Tester did not catch this detrimental provision of the bill. We are certainly hopeful they can get it removed before final passage,” he said.
Hegreberg repeated the outrage expressed by AGC’s CEO Stephen Sandherr in his statement, noting, “The Senate health care bill appears poised to exclude the industry from thoughtful measures designed to protect small businesses. If Washington was looking for a way to push more construction workers into unemployment lines, the late-night amendment to the health care ‘reform’ measure does just that.”