Proposition 166

We own a small business in Orange County. Because of the dire economic conditions, it has taken over two years for our new business to break even, financially. Should Prop. 166 pass and be implemented, we would have one of two choices: Close up shop (we do not have funds to purchase health insurance for our part-time employees and their dependents); reduce all employee hours to less than 17 per week (the proposition states that employers need not supply benefits to employees working less than 17 hours per week). In either case our part-time employees would still not receive medical benefits, and, in the worst case scenario, would not have a job.

If politicians, the California Medical Assn. (who is behind this initiative), insurance companies and the general public would wake up to reality, overhaul workers’ compensation, eliminate the waste and fraud in welfare, stop lawyers from luring individuals on TV to file work-related stress claims, the savings in those areas could be used to help offset the cost of fair, basic health services for all employees. Without straightening out the sad mess that exists in our systems, any attempt to make small businesses bear the entire burden of this problem is unfair, unethical and unconscionable.

JEAN and MATT GIORGI, Brea