Last minute Healthcare Amendment addition singles out Construction Firms.

Albuquerque Journal ^ | December 24, 2009 | Rivkela Brodsky

[formy3children]

U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., apparently persuaded Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid to add a provision to force construction businesses of five or more employees to provide insurance coverage or face hefty fines.

[blackbart.223]

"Only way to avoid this is to have states declare that they will not honor this federal decree."

I agree. But how many states will have the balls to do this?

[nina0113]

If you have five employees fire one.

Be sure to choose based on their bumper stickers.

[twigs]

I hope not. That sounds like the beginning of a banana republic and the beginning of an autocratic takeover.

[org.whodat]

They already do that, the insurance and benefits they should pay are taken care of in your taxes. So don't bitch the next time your taxes go up after all you are just help the poor old dead beat contractor out.

[ErnBatavia]

Huge red flag with IRS.....independent contractor regs are pretty tough to get around.

[Eye of Unk]

I work for a family owned small business and this will be pretty much my proposal for the owners so they won’t be saddled with getting insurance, if they had too everyone would be making the lowest pay scale possible.

Its no wonder the Federal employees get a higher wage bracket, now most of America will reduce wages and employee count.

[truthkeeper]

I agree. But how many states will have the balls to do this?

Sounds like about 10 AGs may already be on board...

[nina0113]

There are enough brain dead idiots to vote for them on the promise of free stuff.

What happens when there is no "stuff", free or otherwise?

[twigs]

Maybe that’s what Obama and minions want. Declare martial law and take over. We’re entering a very dangerous period.

[tiger63]

You know how you make someone fear you?

Apply a large 2 X 4 with great force along the sides of these criminal congress critters heads!

[Lonesome in Massachussets]

You really can’t do that, 1099 everyone. The IRS has rules for what constitutes as self employed person and what constitutes a contractor. You could, as I suggest, form a bunch of small companies then subcontract to your own companies. Then they’ll make more rules. This whole thing is assine.

Mark Steyn pointed out that Obamacare won’t be as bad as the British or Canadian systems, it’ll be much worse. The whole point is destroy the current system and then have people clamor for the government to fix the mess they’ve made. It’s worked for them so far. Most of the perceived problems with the “health care system” are the effects of government intervention.

[Scotsman will be Free]

Yeah, I know. But what’s a mother to do? You’re dicked either way.

[Ouderkirk]

THe way around this is to incorporate several businesses. Each separate from the other financially but which all “sub-contract” to the others. So, I have five businesses with four empolyees. When I need the full crew I subcontract with myself for the required help.

[blackbart.223]

"What happens when there is no "stuff", free or otherwise?"

Things get ugly I think.

[kabar]

Interesting point, although a bit cynical of people

Cynical? We have 12 top 20 million illegals in our country, about 8 million of whom are working illegally. We also are importing 125,000 LEGAL FOREIGN WORKERS A MONTH now in the midst of one of our worst economic downturns with 16 million Americans out of work.

Employers want to continue to tap into this inexhaustible supply of cheap exploitable labor that is subsidized by the taxpayer. The Chamber of Commerce is one of the strongest opponents of E-verify.

[Red in Blue PA]

That sounds like the beginning of a banana republic

Actually, that sounds like the first step in having elected Congresspeople who actually respect the Constitution and the wishes of the people.

To cure cancer, first it must be excised, a dirty and painful process.

[concerned about politics]

Illegals get their coverage.

Don't hire illegals, for one.
Lay off most employees and use temp services instead. Keep turning over the temp employees so they don't stay too long.
Work people under 40 hours, and use more part time help to make up for the loss of labor. Instead of using one temp for 40 hours, use two at 20 hours each. Keeping the laborers under 40 hours may be a way to avoid Oboma induced bankruptcy and excessive health care costs.

[cyn]

THANKS for finding and posting this.

But YIKES! It’s worse than I thought about the excerpt, even that little bit has now disappeared!! And they want us to log in to their site to read it, rather than making it readily available... what a darn shame for the free flow of information.

Anyway, we know there will be much more like this to come. Let’s see what happens when FL construction co’s hear about this... especially since other small businesses are exempt if have 50 employees or fewer.

As someone pointed out above, this is also payback to unions.

[blackbart.223]

"Sounds like about 10 AGs may already be on board..."

Let's hope more get on board. It's not over yet.

[mewzilla]

These guys are making King George III look like a piker....