Tax Credits Backed As Health Incentive

U.S. Sen. Saxby Chambliss emphasized Wednesday that he is "unalterably opposed" to any health care reform bill that contains a public option or increases taxes.

"We have not explored the use of the tax code (to offer) tax credits or tax deductions that can pay for this. I'm not in favor of stifling the business community to pay for this," he told reporters after a luncheon sponsored by the Dalton-Whitfield Chamber of Commerce.

The Georgia Republican spoke to a primarily friendly crowd of about 260 people -- mainly local business people -- at the Dalton Golf and County Club. Tickets were $22 for chamber members and $40 for nonmembers. The event was part of Sen. Chambliss' statewide tour to seek constituents' opinions on health care reform.

Sen. Chambliss said he supports legislation co-sponsored by U.S. Sens. Tom Coburn, R-Okla., and Richard Burr, R-N.C., to give people tax credits they could use to buy health insurance.

Audience members submitted about 40 questions to Dalton-Whitfield Chamber officials, who selected some for the senator to address after his opening 30-minute speech.

After the luncheon, Dalton resident Jill Thomason said she thought Sen. Chambliss did not give enough attention to regulation of insurance companies.

The 44-year-old self-employed hairdresser dropped her individual insurance policy five years ago when her premiums doubled. She said she doubted a tax credit would enable her to afford the skyrocketing cost of individual insurance.

"That's all fine and well, but without any sort of regulation on the insurance companies ... it would still be a struggle for someone like myself to pay for private insurance," she said.

Sen. Chambliss said in his opening remarks that insurance reform should be part of the health care overhaul.

"There's no reason why, in a free market, we ought not to be able to buy insurance across state lines" to encourage competition, he said.

Sen. Chambliss said he opposes a provision in the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee's bill that would impose a $750-per-worker annual fee on companies that employ more than 25 people but do not offer insurance coverage.

Since the fee is less than the cost of most insurance, many employers would just choose to pay the fee and put their workers on a public plan, he said.

Jim Bethel, CEO of carpet maker J&J Industries, said he pays $8,500 per employee for health care.

"We could just simply say, 'Hey, government, if you're going to do it for $750, you got it,'" he said after the luncheon. "I'm not saying we would. ... I'm saying nobody's talking about that."

Sen. Chambliss said after the luncheon that he might vote for a bill that includes some kind of employer mandate if it was well thought out.