I know I'm coming off like one of those dirty "right wing-extremists" again. The truth is that I am looking at the very real implications that these bills being proposed and passed are going to have on my career and family's personal livelihood. There are certainly many ways the proposed healthcare bill will negatively affect small businesses throughout America. In my corner of the business world, it would essentially screw over every nursing agency (and other service based companies) because it will require everyone with a payroll over $400k per year to either fully insure EACH person on their payroll and their families (whether full OR part time). That sounds like a lot, but many small businesses have 5-10 employees that can easily combine to reach this total payroll amount. If they don't, then the business is forced to pay an 8% tax for all payroll. As you know, my business don't sell goods, such as hard-drives or coffee-pots; we sell nursing hours. This means that we are essentially having to pay 8% more for each dollar we normally pay out, which comprises a vast majority of our sales. Businesses which have a payroll of between $251k and $400k must pay a 6% tax. I see 4 potential options should this poorly thought out healthcare bill pass (for my business specifically).
1) We will have to raise our rates, which is a challenge, since we're often awarded rates by hospitals and have little influence here. Plus, if under government control, will hospitals even be allowed to pay us a higher rate if they desire?
2) Lower our nurse's pay, which will make far fewer nurses consider working for us - essentially drying up our pool of "product"
3) Lower expenses in the office, such as: fire office staff get reid of phone lines, move to a smaller office space, etc.
4) Close business altogether.
Will this "free" healthcare actually be free for the people we let go, or the nurses who's pay we must cut, or for the businesses who we stop purchasing from, or for my own family? It seems rather hasty and poorly thought out to so blindly plan to commit an entire nation's future earnings.
I believe that God will provide and I will continue to work toward improving my lot. I WILL NOT sit quietly by the wayside, while someone in Washington hands over my countless hours of hard work, sacrifice, and responsible personal conduct in exchange for a bunch of votes toward their re-election. People across America feel the same way I do, and they're getting just as mad. The tragedy, in my opinion, would be if your freedom was wrenched away and you didn't see it coming.
