Rep. Mark Schauer visits local business to talk health care reform

(NEWSCHANNEL 3) – The debate over health care reform continues. This week the president reiterated his support for a public option, and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi now says a reform bill can't pass the House without it.

Meanwhile, the so-called 'Gang of Six' is continuing negotiations to put together a bipartisan bill. The group met via conference call for an hour and a half Thursday, pledging to keep negotiations going.

They say they plan to increase the focus on affordability and cost, hoping to finalize legislation by September 15^th.

On Friday, Congressman Mark Schauer met with workers at one company to talk about how reform would help them.

Congressman Schauer visited with a group of workers at Stewart Industries, who do have health insurance. For some, the question becomes whether health care reform would help or hurt their current plan.

Workers Newschannel 3 spoke to at Stewart Industries say they consider themselves lucky to be among the insured.

"I have great health insurance," said Courtnie Atkinson.

Atkinson was looking for some reassurance that health care reform will keep that insurance great, or make it better.

Questions about whether health care reform will raise taxes are the sort of questions that Congressman Schauer is getting used to answering. In a debate that has often become heated, Schauer has found himself defending the health reform plan, assuring employers and employees that they won't end up losing what they currently have.

"A lot of misinformation about health care reform, they suggest folks would lose their employee based program, that's not true," said Schauer.

The current plan does call for a penalty on employers if they don't provide insurance and their payroll is more than $500,000.

Schauer says he supports a plan that would make it easier for employers to afford health care in the first place.

"Their insurance premiums go up by double digits every year, most companies double their costs," said Schauer. "That's not sustainable. What that translates into is a reduction in benefits to employees, where employees pay more."

The president of Stewart Industries said he appreciated the discussion and hopes what comes out of the debate is better health care for American families.

"It's a work in process," said Erick Stewart, President of Stewart Industries. "Until the process is complete, I'm not on one side or the other, in the end it has value to me and my associates."