The bill, dubbed the Ohio Healthcare Plan, could save businesses money supporters say. It calls for a 5.5% payroll tax on all businesses. That's about 3% less than what the Ohio Single Payer Action Network calculates as the average businesses spend on insurance.
Parma area state Senator Dale Miller introduced the bill this week, and he says this could make Ohio more economically attractive.
Dale Miller: I think it would also make some of our existing industrial companies more competitive and allow them to stay here.
Three similar proposals have been introduced in the past and none of them ever made it out of committee. But Miller says the rising healthcare costs is fueling support for reform in the business community. Governor Ted Strickland supports increasing the number of Ohioans with health insurance, but has no comment on the bill.
Ohio Minority Whip Teressa Fedor and Assistant Whip Tom Roberts are co-sponsoring the legislation. Governor Ted Strickland has no comment on the bill.
Lisa Ann Pinkerton, 90.3.