Oregon small businesses back health reform legislation vote

PORTLAND, Ore. -- A coalition of small businesses from across the state endorsed the weekend vote by the U.S. House of Representatives that brought health care reform within one vote of the president’s desk.

The Oregon Small Business Council supports health care reform and a public health insurance option. In September, the group met in Portland to formally endorse the so-called public option and what it called “a shared commitment.”

Small business leaders met throughout the summer with Reps. Earl Blumenauer, Peter DeFazio, Kurt Schrader and David Wu to have a voice in the final bill. More:Health reform gets OK from small business

According to the group, health insurance costs for small businesses could double within a decade without federal regulation, and providing coverage to employees has become too expensive.

The group sought four components, dubbed “the Four Cs” in the health care legislation: affordable costs, guaranteed coverage, shared commitment and real choices.

More:Health care fact check|Ore. doctors head to DC

The Oregon Small Business Council is part of a national network of local business associations.

The U.S. Senate will soon vote on the health care overhaul.

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