U.S Rep. Rosa DeLauro met with Valley business leaders at the Greater Valley Chamber of Commerce Monday morning to discuss the economy, jobs and federal policy with an emphasis on how it relates to business — especially small business.
DeLauro spoke in detail about the recession’s affect on businesses and families nationally and in Connecticut – but the conversation soon turned to the hot topic of health care reform.
DeLauro spoke for about an hour and left about 15 minutes for questions.
The Economy
DeLauro described Connecticut’s economy as “fragile,” despite some recent growth.
DeLauro credited that growth to a surge in temporary hiring and the economic recovery bill — the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.
“I think the Recovery Act helped mitigate it and staunched the bleeding of the recession,” DeLauro said. “Its purpose provides states with wherewithal to create jobs, infrastructure, energy, health and lay down the foundation for economic growth.”
Last week the State Department of Labor released data that showed Connecticut’s unemployment rate hit 9 percent in January, but about 2,300 jobs were added in the state.
Read a story in the Hartford Courant about the numbers, here.
In the Valley, unemployment rates increased by 17 percent in January.
Health Care Reform
Derby school Superintendent Stephen Tracy discussed the public option in the healthcare bill.
“A lot of us seem to be discouraged by the cost,” Tracy said.
DeLauro said there are ways to deal with waste, fraud and abuse that might come with health care reform.
“It’s 100 years and people have been trying to do something about healthcare,” DeLauro said. “If it was easy, we would have done something already.”
DeLauro became very passionate talking about health care and especially its affect on women.
“A young woman waits for me in a restaurant and says: ‘I have cancer, please pass healthcare. The preexisting condition is killing me because I can’t change jobs or I will lose my healthcare.’” DeLauro said.
Independent Aflac agent Ron Rubano described the government spending as a “Ponzi scheme“ and said it is taking money from the future to fill the hole now. He also criticized elected officials’ health care benefits.
“When is it right that an elected employee has a better health care and retirement plan than the public?” Rubano asked DeLauro.
Other questions dealt with how the healthcare bill will affect local businesses.
Robert Bradley, owner of Beacon Falls Pharmacy, spoke to DeLauro about the need for oversight of the insurance companies and their influence on independent pharmacies.
Bradley said within five years independent pharmacies will be gone.
“Basically what is happening is the insurance companies are reducing payments to pharmacies and at the same time they are raising premiums to customers and raising customers’ co-pays,” Bradley said. “I would like to see transparency in the insurance industry and limitations on mergers occurring.”
Reaction
Businesspeople at the breakfast said they wished they had more time to get answers from DeLauro. But they were otherwise happy to get a chance to hear from her on national issues.
“Rosa is authentic and there is no pretense,” said Griffin Hospital CEO and president, Patrick Charmel, as he introduced her to the group. “She wants to make a positive difference with those she serves and she really, really cares.”
