A Comprehensive Plan to Strengthen Maine's Small Businesses

Dear Mainers,

As your Congressman, I am pleased to have this opportunity to share with you some news about my comprehensive small business legislation.

Frustrated with the lack of action in Congress to address the needs of small businesses, I recently introduced a seven-part plan that would help strengthen small businesses in Maine and across the nation. Among other things, my proposals would help make health insurance more affordable, provide tax relief to lower high fuel costs, make permanent the research and development tax credit, modernize tax laws governing depreciation, and support small business programs that have proven their worth.

Last evening, ABC World News Tonight ran a feature on the health insurance part of my plan, which proposes state and national multi-insurer pools for small businesses. My bill will provide comprehensive health insurance choices for small employers with benefits and coverage comparable to what is available to Members of Congress and federal employees. My bill will help make coverage more affordable by providing federal assistance to participating businesses and by establishing a reinsurance fund to cover catastrophic claims.

I hope you find this e-mail useful. I am always eager to hear your views on federal issues, so please feel free to contact my Washington, D.C., Portland or Saco, Maine offices.