WisBusiness: Group says its poll shows small-business community backs health care reform

By WisBusiness Staff

Citizen Action of Wisconsin argues that a new poll of business owners in Wisconsin shows “strong” support for health care reform in the state’s small business community.

Citizen Action and national business advocacy group Small Business Majority collaborated on the poll, which showed 75 percent of respondents supporting a package that includes both public and private coverage options for small businesses and individuals. The poll also identified controlling costs as the main issue for small businesses, and that 84 percent of the businesses that do not offer health insurance say they can’t afford to do so.

The poll, conducted by Lake Research Partners on behalf of Small Business Majority, surveyed 200 small business owners by telephone interview from May 20-29. The random sample of small business proprietors, defined as businesses employing up to 100 individuals, was obtained through commercial vendor InfoUSA. The margin of error is plus or minus 6.5 percent with a 95 percent confidence interval.

“The findings … parallel what we have been hearing all over the state,” said Citizen Action of Wisconsin Program Director Robert Kraig. “Skyrocketing health care costs are a tremendous burden on Wisconsin small businesses, and small business owners strongly support fundamental reform.”