US Chamber backs "Repeal the Job Killing Health Care Law Act" #p2 #tcot glad chamber ally Bill Daley in in white house @chamberpost

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2011/1/12/935365/-US-Chamber-backs-Repeal-the-Job-Killing-Health-Care-Law-Act?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+dailykos%2Findex+%28Daily+Kos%29

Good thing that the U.S. Chamber ally Bill Daley will be in the White House to provide a liaison to the business community, to bring them along on President Obama's agenda for the nation and the economy. Or not.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is backing Republican plans to try and repeal President Obama's health care bill.

"We see the upcoming House vote as an opportunity for everyone to take a fresh look at health care reform," chamber president Thomas J. Donohue said in his annual State of American Business address. "And to replace unworkable approaches with more effective measures that will lower costs, expand access, and improve quality."

Obama can make his case directly to the Chamber when he speaks to them on February 7, when he is expected to "discuss items on which he and the business community agree, including pro-growth tax cuts and a proposed free trade agreement with South Korea." One thing he might talk to them about is a recent study done in Michigan that concluded:

Thousands of Michigan businesses would lose tax credits, and scores of young adults and others with pre-existing conditions would face losing insurance if health care reform legislation is repealed, according to a report released Monday.

An estimated 126,300 Michigan small businesses would lose tax credits for health insurance, 32,800 young adults wouldn't be covered under their parents' plans and more than 2 million Michigan residents with pre-existing health conditions could face insurance rejection, according to report by PIRGIM, the Public Interest Research Group in Michigan, a nonprofit, nonpartisan advocacy group.

Without health insurance exchanges, individual premiums would be 14 percent to 20 percent higher, the report analyzing the impact of undoing the legislation on Michigan found.

"Outright repeal of the federal health care law simply is not a prudent choice for Michigan," the 23-page report says.

What's true for Michigan businesses in this case would be true for businesses across the country. That raises a key question about the U.S. Chamber that's come up frequently in the past year--exactly whose interests are they looking out for? It sure doesn't appear to be the nation's small businesses.