Small Business Majority – California healthcare reform events

California Task Force on Affordable Care (May 5, 2010 - Sacramento)

Led by the New America Foundation, the California Task Force on Affordable
Care hosted an event in Sacramento to release a report that details its
recommendations on how best to move forward on healthcare reform
implementation. As a task force member, Small Business Majority CEO John
Arensmeyer spoke at the event to give the organization’s views on creating a
sustainable, successful health insurance exchange in California that would benefit
consumers and small business owners. John was joined by other high-profile
speakers, including California Health and Human Services Secretary Kim Belshé
and Assembly members Nathan Fletcher and Isadore Hall. The event was
attended by over 100 policymakers, opinion leaders and members of the media.

Governor’s Conference on Small Business and Entrepreneurship (May 6, 2010 –

Oakland)

Governor Schwarzenegger convened hundreds of business groups and small

business owners from across the state to meet and discuss the issues that small
businesses are facing in California. Small Business Majority’s John Arensmeyer
and David Chase spoke as part of a panel on healthcare reform and how small
business owners can make the new legislation work for them. Specifically, they
focused on the opportunities that the new state insurance exchanges will provide
for small businesses as well as a few key recommendations for policymakers as
they create the framework for the exchange this year.

Joint Legislative Health Committee Hearing (May 12, 2010 – Sacramento)

John Arensmeyer testified at an informational hearing on healthcare reform

implementation held by the California Assembly and Senate health committees.
Joining a range of stakeholder groups including consumers, providers and
insurers, Small Business Majority was the only business group invited to
participate. John made several recommendations to the committees regarding
the insurance exchange, including establishing fair rules both inside and outside
the exchange, creating an active purchaser model and combining the small group
and individual markets into one exchange.

Listening Tour (May 27, 2010 – San Diego)

Small Business Majority kicked off its California listening tour in San Diego, with
an event co-hosted by one of the largest and most influential business groups in
the area, the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce. With close to 60 people
in attendance, John spoke about the major provisions of healthcare reform of
 interest to small business owners, including the new healthcare premium tax
credit, state health insurance exchange and high-risk pool. John was joined by
New America Foundation senior research fellow Micah Weinberg and a senior
aide to Governor Schwarzenegger, Charleen Zettel. The event included a lively
hour-long question-and-answer session to address concerns of attendees.

The San Diego event was the first of 8-10 that will be held throughout the state, in
connection with local and regional chambers of commerce and other small
business organizations. The twin goals are to inform small business owners about
how the new law will affect them and how they can take advantage of some of its
benefits, and to gather their questions and concerns to convey to the
policymakers and legislators who will be developing the regulations and
implementing reform. The questions and topics will be compiled in a
comprehensive report that will be written at the end of the listening tour and
presented to California lawmakers.

Town Hall with Representative John Garamendi (June 2, 2010 - Walnut Creek)

John Arensmeyer was invited by Rep. Garamendi to speak at the congressman’s

town hall for small business owners regarding healthcare reform. Small Business
Majority was the only business group asked to participate. John spoke about the
immediate benefits for small business owners, such as the tax credit and high-
risk pool, as well as more benefits to come, namely the state health insurance
exchange. Participants engaged directly with the speakers and asked many
questions about insurance reform, cost containment and requirements for small
business owners.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Fremont Chamber of Commerce Public Policy Luncheon on Healthcare Reform

(June 23, 2010 – Fremont)

Small Business Majority’s California Outreach Manager David Chase will

participate on a panel designed to inform small business owners about the new
federal legislation and what they can do to make it work for their businesses.

Los Angeles Congressional event (June 26 – Los Angeles)

Hosted by Representative Diane Watson and several other congressional

members from Los Angeles, this event will feature speakers from the US
Department of Health and Human Services and various stakeholder groups,
including Small Business Majority. David Chase will participate in a discussion
on the aspects of healthcare reform of greatest interest to small businesses.
City of Alameda Healthcare Reform Luncheon (July 15 – Alameda)

The City of Alameda hosts regular informational luncheons for Human Resources
directors in companies throughout the city on topics pertinent to the local
workforce. John Arensmeyer will be the featured speaker at the upcoming event
focused on healthcare reform and what they need to know about the new law.

Listening Tour (July 22 – San Jose)

Small Business Majority’s California listening tour will continue on to San Jose
with an event hosted by the San Jose Silicon Valley Chamber of Commerce. The
event will again feature remarks by John Arensmeyer as well as New America
Foundation’s Micah Weinberg. The bulk of the event will be a question-and-
answer session to allow the Chamber’s members to better understand what the
federal law means for their businesses.

2010 Southern California Business Development Conference (July 29 – Long

Beach)

Several Southern California business organizations are hosting an all-day

conference for small business owners to learn about a variety of issues, including
healthcare reform. David will speak on the healthcare panel about the new tax
credit, high-risk pool and exchange. The organizers hope to have between 200
and 300 business owners in attendance at the event.

Event with Representative Lucille Roybal Allard (July 2010 – Los Angeles)

The congresswoman is interested in having Small Business Majority speak at an

event she is holding along with the Greater Los Angeles Area Chamber of
Commerce. Details are still being worked out.

Healthcare Forum with the San Diego North Chamber of Commerce (September
2010 – North San Diego County)

The Chamber is putting together an informational forum for their members to

learn more about healthcare reform and they’ve asked Small Business Majority to
participate.

Event with Board of Equalization Vice Chair Jerome Horton (TBD – Los
Angeles County)

Mr. Horton’s office has contacted us about his interest in hosting an event for
small business owners in his district to discuss healthcare reform. They would
like Small Business Majority to participate in some fashion. Details are still being
worked out.

National Association of Women Business Owners, Sacramento monthly dinner

(September 2010 – Sacramento)

The group has invited David Chase to speak to their members about healthcare
reform at one of their monthly dinners.