Today, Frank Lucas (R-OK), Sam Graves (R-MO), and Doc Hastings (R-WA), Co-Chairs of the Rural America Solutions Group, released the following statement regarding Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s massive health care bill. The Pelosi health care plan includes employer mandates on small businesses, penalizes them with increased payroll taxes, and additional income surtax on businesses. Many small businesses in rural America file as individuals and will be directly affected by Democrats’ tax increases.

“Even as more rural Americans lose their jobs, Speaker Pelosi and the Democratic Congress introduced legislation yesterday that will cripple small businesses all across the country – especially in rural America.

“Apparently, it is not enough that Speaker Pelosi and the Democratic majority have a trillion-dollar stimulus package that has failed to create jobs and has sacked rural Americans with more debt than they can possibly pay for in their lifetimes. It is not enough that they forced a National Energy Tax bill through the House that would disproportionately target rural Americans. Now, Speaker Pelosi is attempting to levy a new tax on small businesses – the backbone of rural America – in order to fund a government-run health care system that empowers the Federal government to control Americans’ health care.

“Members of the Rural America Solutions Group understand that new taxes and government mandates are not the solution. Instead, we will continue to fight to make quality health care coverage affordable and accessible for every American, provide Americans with the freedom to choose the health plan that best fits their needs, and protect Americans from being forced into a new government-run health care plan.”

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