President Obama’s healthcare initiative to overhaul the nation’s ailing healthcare system is receiving its fair share of criticism as he takes his message to town hall meetings across the country.  And, this widespread negative response is having an impact on the debate in Congress as well.

Most recently, Senator Grassley (R-Iowa) who is the Ranking Member on the Senate Finance Committee where this health reform legislation was referred, said of the debate, “the climate has changed a little bit in the last month…it’s more chancey.”  A Democrats-only health care reform bill has already been approved by three House committees and this issue is likely to be considered when Congress returns from the August recess on September 8th.  

President Obama, noting the nation’s shift in opposition to his proposal, has backed away recently from the notion of a public option in the healthcare overhaul – an idea strongly opposed by Republicans.  However, some Democrats have countered saying they would not support any healthcare reform plan that did not include this public option.

AWMA has joined together with a coalition dedicated to combating any healthcare reform proposal that negatively impacts the small business community.  This coalition – known as the Small Business Coalition for Affordable Healthcare – is committed to increasing access and affordability of health insurance for the small business owners, their employees and to working with legislators to craft meaningful healthcare solutions for our nation’s job creators – small business.