RISMEDIA, Jan. 26, 2007-"Providing health insurance for all Americans working for small businesses or as independent contractors is a priority for the National Association of Realtors(R), and we are pleased to see that President Bush has made access to affordable coverage a cornerstone of his State of the Union address and his 2007 agenda," said NAR President Pat Vredevoogd Combs.
With nearly 30% of its 1.3 million members unable to obtain affordable health insurance, NAR is committed to working with the president and this Congress to get small business health-care legislation enacted as quickly as possible. Combs, in testimony earlier this month, noted that the self-employed and those who work for the growing number of small businesses that cannot provide employee heath insurance "must not be held hostage by an insurance delivery system that clearly doesn't work for them."
NAR, along with other organizations and associations, has advocated legislation that would allow small businesses to band together through their respective trade associations to strengthen the purchasing power and lower the cost of health insurance for their members. "The president has taken a step forward in laying out his health coverage plan, which includes language that will allow small businesses to pool together, strengthen
their buying power and cross state lines. There are many details to iron out and differing view points to be addressed, but the good news is the real work starts now," said Combs.
For more information, visit http://www.REALTOR.org.
