The St. Joseph News-Press

By Ken Newton

All signs point to debate of America’s Affordable Health Choices Act before the August congressional recess.

Three House committees completed work Tuesday on the bill. A Senate panel also reported out its version. On Wednesday, President Obama insisted that the health care status-quo threatens the “financial stability” of America’s families, businesses and government.

Northwest Missouri Congressman Sam Graves said Thursday he would oppose the measure because of its cost to small business, its expansion of government into health care and its potential to lessen the quality of medical treatment.

“I think this thing is going to cost a lot of jobs,” said Mr. Graves, the top Republican on the House Small Business Committee.

The lawmaker referred to the measure’s plan to raise taxes on upper-end earners in order to pay for the program, expected to cost in excess of $1 trillion. Such a intention, Mr. Graves said, would prompt business owners to limit expansion if nearing certain monetary thresholds.

He cited a National Federation of Independent Business study that government mandates of 50 percent employer premiums would result in 1.6 million job losses.

The legislator also countered the notion that health costs would come down because of increased competition. “The fact is you can’t compete with the federal government,” Mr. Graves said. “A lot of those options out there right now, private options, are going to go away.”

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