From Politico, Business Roundtable edges away from health reform plan; note especially the last sentence. This might be of some real significance (which is why I am posting on it):
Without fundamental changes to the current health reform plans, the White House and congressional Democrats risk losing the last major corporate group that is standing by their effort: The Business Roundtable.
In an interview with POLITICO on Friday, Roundtable President John Castellani raised concerns about the effectiveness of cost containment provisions in the proposal, and the timing of various fees and taxes that ultimately could be passed on to employers that provide insurance to workers.
“If these areas aren’t improved the reform effort will not work and we need something that works,” said Castellani.
Castellani wouldn’t say how long the group is giving Democrats to fix the bill, but said, “We are going to be much louder and much more insistent on improving” the legislation.
Castellani’s comments are significant because the White House, including President Barack Obama, has often contrasted the Roundtable’s cooperative role with that of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, which is lobbying hard against the plan.
It is late in the day to see this type of news report from a down-the-middle organization such as Politico.
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