For Immediate Release
July 21, 2009

 

BUSINESS COMMUNITY DISAPPOINTED IN OVERRIDE
OF HEALTH CARE VETO
Plan will expand state government and require billions to implement

The business community is disappointed that majority Democrats in the legislature voted to override Gov. Rell's prudent veto of a health care measure which, while a well intentioned proposal, ultimately would prove very costly for the people of Connecticut if fully implemented. The reapproval of the "SustiNet" plan will set in motion a significant expansion of state government into health care and a major increase in the burden on taxpayers.
On the other hand, lawmakers correctly sustained the governor's veto of the Healthcare Partnership, or pooling bill, when the measure fell one vote short of the necessary two-thirds majority in the Senate. Legislative Republicans in both chambers solidly opposed both of these costly measures, along with five Democrats in the House. In the case of the pooling bill, Sen. Hartley's stance made the critical difference in that chamber.
"We all want a better health care system," said John R. Rathgeber, CBIA president and CEO. "The question is how to do that responsibly. It is unfortunate that, in the face of a massive state budget deficit and a struggling Connecticut economy, legislators approved a plan that won't improve health care but will increase the size and cost of state government."  
Because real health care reform--controlling costs, increasing quality and helping more people secure health insurance--remains a critical need in Connecticut, CBIA will work with key policymakers to develop a comprehensive approach that is in the best interests of the people of Connecticut. The SustiNet plan lacks many important details, especially pertaining to the significant funding it will require.
"We are hopeful that the legislature, when it reviews the SustiNet board's full report in 2011, will carefully balance the goal for universal health care insurance with taxpayers' ability to afford it, and consider other more cost-effective options to truly help our citizens and economy," said Rathgeber.
The business community is concerned about the enormous strain that the SustiNet measure will place on state tax dollars to pay for both the new state bureaucracy and potentially the medical claims if insurance premiums are insufficient. Connecticut is facing a state budget gap of more than $8 billion in the next two fiscal years, and tax revenue of all types has declined significantly.
What's more, the SustiNet plan is not in coordination with measures being considered in Congress to reform the nation's health care system.
"We are extremely grateful to the Connecticut House and Senate Republican caucuses who supported the position held by the business community and Gov. Rell that these proposals were too costly," said Rathgeber. "We are also thankful to the House Democrats who recognized the problems inherent in both of these measures, and to Sen. Hartley for her stand against the pooling bill."
CBIA looks forward to working with the Health Care Reform Advisory Board, created by a recent executive order from Gov. Rell, to help Connecticut prepare health care policies that will complement federal initiatives working through Congress.
Health care remains a top priority of Connecticut's business community, and CBIA is committed to supporting true reforms that will increase the affordability of health care, promote innovation, improve medical outcomes and expand access.

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CBIA is the state’s largest business organization, with 10,000 members.

For more information, contact CBIA's Eric George at 860-244-1921.

 

For more information contact Nancy Andrews, CBIA media relations manager, at 860-244-1957 or andrewsn@cbia.com.

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