National health care reform effort heats up: Action needed

With many in Congress thinking that they’re closer than ever to passing a sweeping overhaul of the nation’s health care system, the latest controversy to swarm the effort is over a tactical and legislative procedural move. House Democratic leadership has been angling to avoid voting directly on the previously approved Senate version of health care reform, and only have a formal vote on their actual changes to the Senate version.

Under this scenario, a process called a "self-executing rule," the House could simultaneously approve the Senate bill and vote on a package of changes. This would deem the Senate bill to be passed, without compelling members to vote for it directly. With many House democrats unwilling to vote for the unaltered Senate bill due to varying points of opposition, Democratic leaders are considering this procedural option as a way to insulate their own members from voting on the more moderate Senate bill which they do not like.The catch: The House must pass the Senate bill to move on to the package of changes intended to correct anything in the bill they don't like. This tactic has been the center of some controversy over the last week as it would allow members to temporarily accept the Senate version while not having to cast a formal vote for it, keeping it at arm's length.The issue is expected to be resolved by the House Rules Committee by the week’s end- followed by an immediate push for formal votes on the House floor for the “improved” package.The President has been pushing for a vote on health care reform by making trips into Congressional districts of undecided House democrats and suggesting he will not campaign for certain Democrats if they do not support the reforms. Just recently, Obama released his broad blueprint of health care reform that he hopes to be the compromise bridge between the House and Senate versions of reform already passed by each house respectively.Much is unknown still about how final concepts and legislative language will come together. “We have to pass the bill so that you can find out what is in it, away from the fog of the controversy,” said Speaker Nancy Pelosi in a March 9 speech to the National Association of Counties.We do know the latest reform package regarding employer responsibility is still in the Senate bill. Though it doesn't require businesses to offer coverage, it does charges fees to companies with more than 50 employees if the government subsidizes employees' coverage. The proposal increases the fees to $2,000 per worker instead of $750, but grants companies an allowance that was not part of the original Senate plan.

Action needed

The proposal includes part-time workers in the calculations, counting two part-time workers as one full-time worker. This change away from the Senate bill is extremely harmful to the restaurant industry and the proposal would be exceptionally onerous if it were to pass.It is a critical time for restaurateurs’ voices to be heard. We have a few keys days to stress this point, and making contact with lawmakers in the House of Representatives can influence the outcome. Please contact your member of Congress and tell them to maintain the part-time worker exemption currently in the Senate-passed bill.

How you can help

E-mail your representative and senators. Go online at www.RestaurantHealthCareReformInfo.com to send a message to your personal elected officials. Just fill out your information and the National Restaurant Association will make sure it gets there. Call your representative and senators. Capitol switchboard: (202) 224-3121.

What to say

  • Restaurants operate on thin profit margins. Including part-time workers in the employer requirements will overburden restaurants by adding large new costs and administrative obligations in already difficult times. This will hinder our ability to maintain and create the jobs our economy needs to recover and the jobs the restaurant industry can provide.
  • Part-time employees are a large and essential component of the restaurant-industry labor force. Many of our employees work for multiple employers to build a flexible work schedule or receive coverage under another health plan.
  • It is critical that the part-time worker exemption contained in the Senate-passed health care bill must be maintained.