The Association of Washington Business drafted and submitted a letter to state lawmakers urging them to reject Gov. Inslee’s proposed health care tax. A broad range of businesses and associations signed onto the letter which says in part,
The Governor’s plan adds taxes and increased costs at exactly the wrong time when the COVID-19 pandemic has severely impacted so many Washington residents who already struggle to maintain health insurance coverage while suffering from either job losses or reduced hours due to COVID.
Now is the wrong time to make health insurance even more expensive for those employers who have been able to weather the storm and remain committed to provide access to health coverage for their employees. The Governor’s plan, as laid out in SB 5149, calls for adding more than $200 million in new taxes to the cost of coverage next year, and over $340 million in new taxes to the cost of coverage in the following two years—massive cost impacts that will hit every employer and every employee and beneficiary.
Signing onto the letter were:
Washington Retail Association
Building Industry Association of Washington
Associated General Contractors
National Federation of Independent Business
Washington Food Industry Association
Association of Builders and Contractors
Independent Business Association of Washington
Northwest Grocery Association
Single Handed Consulting
Solverity
Wagstaff Manufacturing
Northwest Marine Trade Association
The Associated Builders & Contractors (Inland Pacific Chapter)
Washington Trucking Association
Willamette Dental Group
Central Bonded Collectors
Washington Hospitality Association
National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors
Washington Association of Health Underwriters
The American Council of Engineering Companies of Washington
Associated Industries
Lemons Trucking, Inc.
Northwest Financial Association Benefits Trust
Community Bankers of Washington
More on this to come.
