Sign on: Small Business Owners Reject Kavanaugh for the Supreme Court
Click here to sign on to the letter below.
Dear Senators Collins and King:
We, Maine’s small business owners, urge you to not confirm Judge Brett Kavanaugh, President Trump’s nominee for the Supreme Court. Kavanaugh’s confirmation would undermine your previous commitments to protect the Affordable Care Act, threatening the lives of and livelihoods of thousands of small business owners and our workers across Maine.
For many of us, the Affordable Care Act has allowed us to pursue the American dream, to create the small businesses that are the backbone of Maine communities, and our state’s economy. The Affordable Care Act has allowed thousands of small business owners and our employees to have health insurance for the first time in our lives. For the 53% of Mainers living with pre-existing conditions, this coverage has not only ensured a healthy and productive workforce, but has literally saved lives. Before the ACA, a single serious illness often led to volatile spikes in our premiums. With the ACA, rates were stabilizing—leveling the playing field for small business and large corporations. It has allowed us to focus on growing our businesses rather than worrying about whether a health emergency will force us to close our businesses or lay off our employees.
Based on his past speeches and written opinions, we already know Kavanaugh’s views on executive power would jeopardize the Affordable Care Act and Medicaid expansion, and put the future of our businesses in peril. Kavanaugh has argued that the President is not obligated to enforce a law that he believes is unconstitutional. We cannot leave the fate of the Affordable Care Act in President Trump’s hands. We cannot go back to allowing insurers to discriminate against people with preexisting conditions, or make it harder to afford coverage if you are a woman, or a senior, or have a chronic health condition.
Small businesses make up 99.3% of all businesses in Maine and we employ over 284,000 Mainers, nearly 58% of Maine’s private workforce. We plead with you to do the right thing and support small business owners across our state.