September 1, 2009 — Recently the NRA met with health care staffers for Sens. Max Baucus (D-Mont.) and Charles Grassley (R-Iowa). As the chairman and ranking Republican on the Senate Finance Committee, Sens. Baucus and Grassley continue to report that the committee’s draft does not include a mandate that employers provide health care coverage.

Even with Congress on recess, senators are meeting by conference call and staffers are working behind the scenes to draft a committee bill. The committee is reportedly currently looking at a tax on high-end health plans (paid by insurers) as a primary way to pay for reform. Our meeting with the Baucus/Grassley staff was positive and productive and we remain in close contact with both offices.

Our overall strategy continues to be to express our support for health care reform consistent with our health care principles, and to encourage a bipartisan solution. We continue to educate members of the House and Senate on the industry's diverse makeup and our unique profile as job-providers. House and Senate staff have been very appreciative of our efforts and ask that we continue to encourage lawmakers to support the Finance Committee's efforts to find a middle ground for health care reform.

Print this article

« Go back to the news list