December 3, 2014

Tallahassee, Fla. – The Associated Industries of Florida (AIF) today issued the following statement attributed to its President & CEO Tom Feeney regarding its participation in the “A Healthy Florida Works” bipartisan coalition, which is pushing a comprehensive policy proposal to extend health care coverage to approximately 1 million uninsured Floridians under the “A Healthy Florida Works Plan.”

“Florida has an opportunity to show the nation that health care can be delivered based on a free market framework and on conservative principles.

“AIF has and will continue to search for solutions to reduce the existing tax imposed on Florida’s employers to pay for health care for the uninsured. 

“One approach to leverage Florida’s share of federal funding to provide consumer choices in health care and protect the state’s financial health is provided by ‘A Healthy Florida Works’ and is a foundation for the upcoming discussion in the 2015 Legislative Session.

“Florida employers continue to search for cost effective delivery of health care to the uninsured based on free market consumer choice and conservative principles.  The ‘A Healthy Florida Works Plan’ released today is one approach to reducing the huge tax on Florida’s employers by leveraging Florida’s share of federal funding, while providing consumer choice in health care and protecting the state’s financial health.  The proposal provides a platform for commencing the 2015 discussion on addressing the significant health care challenges facing Florida employers and consumers.”

Known as “The Voice of Florida Business” in the Sunshine State, AIF has represented the principles of prosperity and free enterprise before the three branches of state government since 1920.  A voluntary association of diversified businesses, AIF was created to foster an economic climate in Florida conducive to the growth, development, and welfare of industry and business and the people of the state.