PIA Statement on House Healthcare Act

PITTSBURGH, Pa.—The following is a statement by Michael Makin, president and CEO of Printing Industries of America (PIA), the world’s largest graphic arts trade association, regarding this weekend’s passage of H.R. 3962, the “Affordable Health Care for America” Act, by a vote of 220-215.

“This weekend the U.S. House of Representatives passed legislation that would threaten the future of employer-sponsored health insurance. Considering 97 percent of printing companies offer some form of health coverage to their workers, Printing Industries of America is deeply disappointed that H.R. 3962 was approved.

“Passage of this bill is especially concerning due to its treatment of the unique problem small printing companies currently face in attempting to access affordable coverage. Not only does H.R. 3962 seek to impose overly prescriptive and costly employer mandates, it would slap a tax on these companies in order to fund comprehensive health care reform. Given the grim unemployment figures—which include over 73,000 lost printing and graphic communications jobs since mid-2008-it is unthinkable that Congress would move to raise mandates and taxes on small firms that are critical to the nation's economic recovery.

“As debate now shifts to the U.S. Senate, Printing Industries of America is urging the upper chamber to focus less on punitive measures and more so on reforms such as allowing printing companies to purchase health insurance across state lines, expansion of flexible tools like Health Savings Accounts, and meaningful medical liability reform—all of which would truly reduce costs and increase the number of insured Americans. Printing Industries of America and its members will continue to advocate for these and other reforms and urge the Senate to reject Speaker Pelosi’s version of comprehensive health care reform,” said Michael Makin, president and CEO.