On Thursday, a select-few contractor organizations involved with the Small Business Coalition for Affordable Healthcare (SBCAH) participated in an invitation-only conference call with Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) to discuss the status of the Senate healthcare reform. Referring to the bill as "a 2000 page monstrosity," Sen. McConnell quickly made it clear that the current bill is "unfixable," and that the only way to move forward is to stop debate and "start over again." McConnell specifically noted ongoing opposition to several provisions in the bill from Sens. Ben Nelson (D-NE) and Jim Webb (D-VA), two senators critical to the ongoing deliberations, as Democrats continue the search for the 60 votes needed to end debate and bring the bill up for a final vote.
 
Addressing the "employer mandate," which requires many employers to provide and contribute to health insurance to their employees, NUCA President Lyle Schellenberg of Armadillo Underground in Salem, Oregon asked the Minority Leader about the prospects of a troubling amendment being contemplated by Oregon Democrat Sen. Jeff Merkely.  The word from key insiders is that Sen. Merkely might offer an amendment to reduce the exemption from the employer mandate for small businesses from those with 50 employees or fewer down to those with six or fewer employees. Sen. McConnell responded by saying several senators are working to ensure that this amendment would "not even be brought up for a vote" if it is in fact introduced.  McConnell added that there are amendments in the works to eliminate the employer mandate altogether. NUCA will continue to work with the SBCAH on this and several other healthcare issues as the debate continues.  (Photo - Senate Minority Leader, Mitch McConnell, (R-KY))