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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2009
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 HEALTH CARE REFORM 
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Business-World Divisions May Ease Path to Plan

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(Newser) – The US Chamber of Commerce launched an ad campaign this week opposing health-care reform, but businesses are hardly united against the administration's proposals, the Washington Post reports. Wal-Mart was a high-profile defector, as was temp firm Kelly Services; both back an employer mandate. And many small and medium-sized businesses are open to reform, hoping it will cut costs or slow the growth of soaring premiums.

In Maine, one of five states the US chamber is targeting, the local chamber supports the proposals. “Most in the business community here have come to the conclusion that it's tough to accomplish at the state level,” says an LL Bean VP, “so there's a looking to Washington.” In Arkansas, the local chamber is staying neutral. “You’ve got a whole range of opinion that’s going to be hard to reconcile,” its president says.

From left, Dr. Margaret Flowers, Aetna CEO Ron Williams and Randel Johnson of the US Chamber of Commerce, take part in a health care roundtable before the Senate Health Committee, June 11, 2009.
From left, Dr. Margaret Flowers, Aetna CEO Ron Williams and Randel Johnson of the US Chamber of Commerce, take part in a health care roundtable before the Senate Health Committee, June 11, 2009.   (AP Photo/Harry Hamburg)
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3 comments
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psycada
Jul 23, 09 10:21 AM CDT
Being that an employer mandate could potentiall bankrupt small business, it's no surprise Walmart is all for it. They made and still make their bread and butter by forcing small business cometition out of the market. Reply
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kokuaguy
Jul 23, 09 12:08 PM CDT
And the job was pretty much completed a long time ago. Now they are worried about their corporate image and where those who decide they absolutely MUST have an air conditioner are going to buy it. The US Chamber of Commerce has been on the wrong side of every issue for as long as I can remember. Americ'a people are getting wise to that finnally, and some of them are even thinking about the country's carbon footprint and how it will affect the generations to come. Reply
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PriorGuess
Jul 23, 09 4:51 PM CDT
Who IS the US Chamber of Commerce? They certainly don't speak for me, a small business owner with (*^&*&^ health care insurance... Reply
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