New Senate Small Biz Chair (aka John Kerry) sets his Agenda

[demdiva]

It's so nice to have a democratic Congress !!!!!!!!

Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry may have trouble telling jokes, but he knows how to get down to serious business. Despite all the reshuffling in the halls of Congress, Kerry retained the top spot on the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, where he's been a member for the past 21 years.

At the top of Kerry's agenda: a bipartisan solution that would make health care more affordable to small business owners and create more oversight of the government's contracting procedures to ensure that small business contracts actually go to small business. Kerry is partnering on his initiatives with Republican senator Olympia Snowe.

"We'll engage the committee on right away," he says. Pledging bipartisanship, the Massachusetts senator says he will work to find a compromise that allows for more affordable coverage for the 27 million uninsured Americans who work for small businesses. Kerry acknowledged that health insurance pools, where small businesses could purchase insurance policies in groups the most likely near-term solution.

-snip-

Kerry promised to disentangle the various proposals, iron out a straightforward plan and get both sides of the aisle to reach consensus. To make all that happen, Kerry says he'll work with his Massachusetts counterpart, Sen. Ted Kennedy, who will now head the Senate Health Committee. Kerry, however, wouldn't set out a timetable for getting the job done. He does have an incentive to work relatively quickly: After finally winning control of Congress, Democrats will need to show results on health insurance, particularly before presidential campaign season heats up and big ticket items like health care grow even more partisan

more at the link ...
http://www.forbes.com/2006/11/18/congress-small-business-taxes-ent-law-cx_mf_1120kerry.html?partner=daily_newsletter

[Bonhomme Richard]

1. There is no way I could have started my business without...

piggybacking on my wife health insurance. The fact is, her boss didn't offer health insurance until she told him I was starting a business and she would have to find a job that offered insurance. He set us up on his plan at no cost to us. She works for a Doctor.
I lucked out big time.
Health care is one of the biggest issues that needs to be addressed and I don't really get why small and large companies aren't screaming their lungs out for reform.

[midnight]

2. Good info. thanks for posting. I can't wait to see how they

will ensure that the small business people get a fair crack at the contracts that big co. have been enjoying the last few years.