Health Plans Legislation

On Thursday, November 12, the White House and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services hosted an hour-long conference call with small business owners from around the country to discuss health care reform. Administration officials participating in the briefing, "Health Care Reform and Small Businesses," included Ann Widger of the White House Office of Public Engagement and Dr.

On Saturday, November 7, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Affordable Health Care for America Act (H.R. 3962) by a margin of 220 to 215. The vote on the complex legislation, which runs almost 2,000 pages, was split along party lines, with only one Republican voting in favor of the legislation and 39 Democrats voting against it. Groups representing the interests of small business owners are also split over the bill's merits. Some are hailing its passage, while others are claiming it will force small businesses to cut jobs.

On Tuesday, November 3, in Washington, D.C., more than 130 small business owners from 25 states, gathered on Capitol Hill and at the White House to urge that Congress reform health care.

On October 20, Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-LA), chair of the U.S. Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, and ranking member Sen. Olympia J.

While both organizations agree on most aspects of health care reform, they do differ on one key aspect: the public option. While the Main Street Alliance believes it is a critical component, the Small Business Majority does not, though the group does think reform would be better with a public option.

Here's a look at each organization and their approach to health care reform.

Main Street Alliance

On Tuesday, September 29, the Senate Committee on Finance voted against creating a government-run public option as part of healthcare reform. The vote came following an emotional debate that lasted more than half the day, the Los Angeles Times reported. However, though the public option was voted down in the Senate committee, it is still possible for a public option to be included in the final draft of healthcare legislation, the Times reported.

As the debate over health care reform heats up, this week, in an e-mail from CEO Oren Teicher, the American Booksellers Association called on member booksellers to contact their elected representatives to let them know that they support health care reform. Noting that health care reform is a critical national issue, Teicher wrote: "As you know all too well, unless measured and effective health care reform efforts are undertaken, the escalating costs of a broken system will only make a crisis situation even more critical."

In an address before a joint session of Congress, on Wednesday, September 9, President Barack Obama urged lawmakers to put aside partisan rancor and come together to help finalize a bipartisan health care solution. "The time for bickering is over," the president said. "The time for games has passed. Now is the season for action. Now is when we must bring the best ideas of both parties together and show the American people that we can still do what we were sent here to do."

Here's a look at some of the data compiled from last week's survey of ABA member booksellers regarding health care reform.

This information, as well as additional comments provided by survey respondents, will be very helpful to the ABA Board of Directors as it considers how it might advocate for health care reform on behalf of independent booksellers. In addition, Bookselling This Week will continue to cover the ongoing story of health care reform.

On Wednesday, July 29, U.S. Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship Chair Mary Landrieu (D-LA) joined Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Senators Blanche Lincoln (D-AR) and Jeff Merkley (D-OR) at a press conference to discuss the effects skyrocketing health care costs are having on small businesses.

At its summer meeting, the American Booksellers Association's Board of Directors discussed the ongoing national debate regarding health care reform, and how ABA might play an advocacy role on behalf of independent booksellers. Following its discussions, the Board concluded that it needed more information from member stores.