Obamacare was sold to us as a cheaper way for businesses to provide their employees with health care. Unfortunately, health insurance tax that is a part of Obamacare does just the opposite. It makes insurance more expensive, especially for small businesses, and one of the results of that added expense is fewer Maine jobs. Thankfully, though, Congress has the opportunity to fix some of the broken aspects of the ACA.

Small businesses are the drivers of Maine’s economy. They represent 97 percent of all companies in the state and employ well over half the total Maine workforce. By adding $530 per employee to the average small business’ annual health insurance costs, the tax makes it more difficult for smaller firms to hire and retain workers.

The National Federation of Independent Business estimates the tax could destroy as many as 286,000 U.S. jobs by 2023. Employer-provided health insurance is not available to someone who doesn’t have a job.

Maine workers should not be put on the unemployment line by a government program that is supposed to be helping them become insured. I hope Sens. King and Collins, both champions of small business, take a stand against the tax and work to make sure it is repealed.

Mary Small
Bath