Support Dawn Sweeney and the National Restaurant Association in Health Care Reform
Every member of the restaurant industry, from the entry-level dish-machine operator to the CEO of the billion-dollar chain should call or send a note of support to Dawn Sweeney of the National Restaurant Association (address and phone number below) for their efforts to take a positive role in the national healthcare debate. Here’s why.
I wrote a personal piece about the healthcare discussion back in September, describing how two of my former employees benefited from the insurance coverage our restaurants offered to them. The first story mentioned that our low-cost insurance came through the Massachusetts Restaurant Association. The second mentioned that it took me months to find affordable coverage through the open market. In both cases it was the right business decision, which had positive impact on our staff, but came at considerably different costs.
Well, today I read an article about Ms. Sweeney, the president and CEO of the National Restaurant Association, and her efforts to change the organization’s focus. The Politico.com article specifically mentions how she and the NRA have moved fully into the healthcare debate by offering innovative solutions instead of obstacles to the discussion. She understands the need to help frame the debate, not simply take a traditional stand opposing any change to the status quo.
With more than 13 million employees, of whom an estimated 4-5 million are uninsured, our industry has a unique and important voice to help define the issues. Bottom line, if the membership of the Association were offered a program that could bring a few million young and low risk customers into the insured pool, the NRA would represent a significant constituency and be given a robust business opportunity at the same time. Just such an insurance program worked for Sweeney’s old organization, the AARP, even though their membership is old and at much higher risk. No one doubts the political power of the AARP on matters of healthcare or even economic policy. The National Restaurant Association could wield nearly as much clout.
Seriously, if you are an employer or an employee in a restaurant company that is struggling to find affordable healthcare, you should immediately push for the NRA to create a nationwide not-for-profit alternative for the industry. If you are a member of the Association, insist that this be part of your package. If you are not a member, let them know that you would join if such a program were part of the benefits of membership. An NRA-led insurance program is in everyone’s best business and political interest.
We all know that if this effort were to happen, then Ms. Sweeney and the staff of the National Restaurant Association would be recognized as true leaders, both for our industry and in our national debate. Clearly the editors at Politico.com already see her from this perspective.
National Restaurant Association
1200 17th Street, NW
Washington, DC 20036
Ph: 202-331-5900 or 800-424-5156
Fax: 202-331-2429
Midwest Restaurateur commented:
The notion that it is better to go along with bad legistlation so you can “have a place at the table” is really misguided. Virtually no one, not even many powerful Democrats, had a place at the table. So, the evil restaurant Execs will have a voice? That’s silly. The NRA should have opposed the legislation. They didn’t do their homework, as is evident in the principles they embraced.
DHennig commented:
BS! If Sweeney really had restaurateurs’ best interests in mind, she would go all out to oppose the diabolical schemes being pushed in Congress. Instead, she just hopes to influence Congress to give us a few minor breaks. Yes, the NRA and other industry groups should offer affordable insurance plans as an alternative for members. But there should be no government involvement in these plans, and no government involvement in healthcare, period.
richard Kunkel commented:
George Ebinger New Jersey commented:
PA Restaurant commented:
