On the same day Governor Gary Locke put his signature on a neutered health-care bill, three major business groups announced the launch of a November ballot initiative aimed at helping the small-business owners of the state provide medical coverage for themselves and their employees.
   “We have no other choice than to take our case to the people,” said Carolyn Logue, state director for the 15,000-member Washington chapter of the National Federation of Independent Businesses (NFIB), America’s largest small-business group. The NFIB, the Independent Business Association (IBA), and the Washington Association of Health Underwriters (WAHU) filed the language with the Secretary of State’s office.
   “Small businesses can’t wait any more! These are people — small business owners and their employees — who are without health care coverage,” said Logue. “Given the current political environment in Olympia over the past several years, a real solution has not been possible. While the Senate passed ESHB 2460 on March 3rd with the amendments needed to finally put affordable health-care plans in the hands of Main Street businesses, the leadership in the House refused to accept those amendments, and in the final days of the session, the major provisions helping small business were gutted.”
   According to Gary Smith, Executive Director of IBA, the legislation makes some constructive changes to help insurers, but it doesn’t help make plans more affordable.
   Sixty-percent of the estimated 43 million Americans without health care share a common trait: they either own or work for a small business. According to surveys by NFIB, health care is the number one problem for these businesses. Only 47 percent are still able to afford health care insurance for their employees. According to IBA surveys, small businesses are increasingly losing their ability to provide insurance. The biggest cost-drivers are mandates (legal requirements by state governments on insurers to add more and more procedures to their basic plans). Lower-cost Idaho has seven state mandates on health insurers; Washington by contrast has 47.
   If passed by the voters, the initiative would allow insurers to offer one basic, health-care plan to small businesses free of costly mandates and it would allow variations in rates on based on deductibles, provider networks, and benefit design.
   “Every day health insurance agents and brokers work with small businesses to find health insurance but too often they and their employees are forced to go without health insurance because they can’t afford the limited options available. This initiative is the best possible solution to finally help those small business owners and their employees find the affordable health insurance options they need,” said Marsha Tellesbo of WAHU.
   200,000 valid voter signatures would be needed for placement on the November ballot.