Main Street joined Wall Street in opposition to President Clinton's health-care reform plan Thursday, sending reverberations along Pennsylvania Avenue.
But the new protests from big and small business - mainly over Clinton's calls for employer mandates, premium controls and government regulation - may not cause much of a ripple on Capitol Hill, and Clinton quickly discounted them.
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce and a host of other groups Thursday joined the influential Business Roundtable in opposing Clinton's package. Among the gripes:
-- Robert Patricelli of the 215,000-member chamber, reversing a friendlier position, said the Clinton plan "proposes such a burden of high employer premium contributions, rich benefits and counterproductive regulation . . . it cannot even be used as a starting point."
-- John Motley of the 600,000-member National Federation of Independent Business said the plan's requirement that employers pay 80% of workers' health insurance is a payroll tax increase designed to create "the largest employer-funded government entitlement in history."
-- Montgomery Ward CEO Bernard Brennan, speaking for the National Retail Federation, said the plan "would provide health-care coverage for our workers, but at the expense of their jobs."
Those and other complaints from business groups came less than 24 hours after a policy panel of the Business Roundtable, a coalition of 225 corporate leaders, endorsed a rival plan by Rep. Jim Cooper, D-Tenn., that relies on market forces, not government mandates.
The week's events move the business community off the fence, where the White House wanted it to stay. Now, major business groups are aligned with insurance and drug companies against Clinton's plan.
Clinton shrugged off the business opposition, saying: "I wouldn't read too much into it. This is the beginning of what will be a protracted legislative discussion."
The chamber and other small-business groups have millions of members in states and congressional districts. That could provide what Clinton ally Sen. John Rockefeller, D-W.Va., characterized Thursday as a needed "wake-up call" at the White House.
Some Republicans were eager to pile on. Sen. Phil Gramm, R-Texas, sponsor of a rival plan, called it "a big setback" for business to oppose Clinton despite a White House lobbying campaign that he said "bordered on intimidation."
But most lawmakers noted business was never bullish on Clinton's plan, and they predicted little effect in Congress.
"Let's recognize them for what they are," said Rep. Fortney "Pete" Stark, D-Calif., of the business groups. "They don't want the federal government to do anything. They were never for us."
Said Senate GOP leader Robert Dole: "I don't think it makes much difference as to what finally emerges."
Two plans for health coverage Differences between President Clinton's and Rep. Jim Cooper's health-care reform plans:
COVERAGE CLINTON: Coverage for all by Jan. 1, 1998. Employers pay 80% of premiums. Subsidies for small firms, low-income families. COOPER: Access to coverage for all. No employer payment required. Subsidies for low-income families.
BENEFITS CLINTON: Benefits include hospital, drugs, physician, long-term care. Set by Congress; could be modified by national board. COOPER: Benefits set by commission after passage. He's adding long-term care.
COOPERATIVES CLINTON: Firms with up to 5,000 workers must join regional insurance purchasing cooperatives. Larger firms could self-insure. COOPER: Co-ops required for individuals and businesses with up to 100 employees.
INSURANCE REFORMS CLINTON: No exclusions for existing conditions; insurers required to charge everyone in a community same rate, adjusted for age. COOPER: No exclusions for existing conditions; insurers required to charge everyone in a community same rate, adjusted for age.
COST CONTROLS CLINTON: Growth of premiums capped. COOPER: No premium caps.
TAXES CLINTON: Starting in 2004, workers taxed on employer-paid benefits over basic package; could no longer put pretax pay into flexible spending accounts. No employer deduction for benefits over basic package. COOPER: Employers' deduction for health-care expenses reduced to lowest-cost regional health plan. Individuals could deduct 100% of premiums they pay.
