Latino Coalition opposes health care bill

Hispanic groups wrote a second letter to congressional leaders to raise their concerns about provisions in the current health care bill that negatively targets minority communities.  They believe that the current legislation will have a disproportionately negative impact on low-income minority groups and will lead to Medicare cuts for Hispanic seniors, increase in taxes for Hispanic small businesses and reduced wages for Hispanic workers.  Congress has failed to listen to their concerns.

Hispanic companies, driven by small businesses, are among the fastest-growing business segments in the United States, growing more than three times faster than the national average. Employer mandates would be an added expense to these Hispanic small businesses as well as lead to lower wages for Hispanic workers.  The individual mandate will be a burden on all Americans.  Capital investment in new and established businesses will fall under the tax scheme proposed in the reconciliation language.

The Medicare Advantage cuts will negatively and disproportionately target Hispanic seniors.  80% of Hispanic seniors making less than $20,000 per year are on Medicare Advantage. These cuts will force low income, minority seniors out of their current plans into a traditional Medicare program with higher costs and fewer benefits.  

Congress has spent enough time supporting an unpopular health care bill that expands government without providing quality care and true accessibility and affordability to minority communities.  

"The American people are displeased with how Congress is applying unprecedented and tricky legislative maneuvers to pass a health care bill that will overhaul our health care system," stated Hector Barreto, Chairman of The Latino Coalition, "This bill will create employer mandates that would be a burden for Hispanic small businesses and lead to reduce wages and loss of jobs for Hispanic workers."

"Latinos as other Americans oppose a government takeover of our health care system.  The Obama plan does nothing to reduce health care costs, which is at the root of the problem.  This plan is terrible for Latinos. It would lead to less income for Latino families.  And, the additional tax burden, would force many Latino companies out of business," stated Alfonso Aguilar, Senior Fellow, Latino Partnership for Conservative Principles.

"Why is President Obama encouraging Congress to use obscure tricks and shady backroom deals to force an unpopular bill through that saddles our children with debt, increases government dependency in our community, and puts politicians and unelected bureaucrats in charge of our health care?  Obamacare is a threat to every family's pursuit of the American dream," stated Mario Lopez, President of the Hispanic Leadership Fund.

SOURCE The Latino Coalition