Store Owner Pleads For It
By Gary E. Lindsley, Staff Writer
ST. JOHNSBURY — His voice quivering, businessman Tom Hurst pleaded Monday for the creation of a universal health care system.
Hurst, who is his family’s fifth generation to run Willey’s Store in Greensboro, asked state Rep. Steve Larrabee, R-Danville, to push for such a system for all Vermonters.
He made his plea during a special meeting called by the National Federation of Independent Business Monday afternoon at the Comfort Inn & Suites in St. Johnsbury.
NFIB representatives were in town to urge business owners to get engaged in debates regarding health care, energy and minimum wage.
The purpose of the “Act Now or Pay Later” meeting was to highlight the “anti-small-business legislation” making its way through the Legislature, according to NFIB information.
Hurst focused on health care.
“I’ve got two four-hour periods a day I can function,” he said, his left hand shaking. “The rest of the time my arms don’t work. The rest of the time I am unable to help.”
Sitting with a number of prescription bottles and two piles of money in front of him, he spoke about how he is suffering with a serious illness. He declined to reveal what the illness is.
“I am unable to hug my daughter,” Hurst said, “but she hugs me.”
He offered $1 and $5 bills to Larrabee and others who might be able to muster a universal health care system through the state Legislature.
“Take $1 because tonight I will not be able to use my hand,” Hurst said. “Please take a $5 bill so you can say I bribed you to really consider universal health care.”
He said his store provides his 17 employees 100 percent health insurance coverage. The employees’ family members are also covered. This year, the store’s health insurance premium went up $20,000, he said.
“Now we are in financial trouble,” he said. “So Steve, I want you to become a person behind universal health care.”
He spoke about how his grandfather Robert Willey had first been a Greensboro state representative and later a state senator.
“He had a passion for education,” he said. “Steve, I would like you to work on health care.”
George Pratt of Bradford Oil said he also would like to see NFIB officials back a universal health care system.
“I don’t understand why they are not,” Pratt said.
Hurst bemoaned the fact that having health insurance coverage is dependent on being employed.
“It favors the wealthy,” he said. “Health care should be like education. It should not be just for full-time [employees].”
Mary Grant, executive director of Rural Community Transportation Inc., agreed.
Grant said she believes everyone should have access to health care. And she believes there should be a universal health care system. She said her son cannot afford to buy health insurance for himself and his family because it would cost about $1,200 a month.
“Our state has to look at the true costs,” Grant said. “Vermont is small enough. We are always doing new stuff. Why not?”
Jim Harrison, president of the Vermont Grocers’ Association, said it is very important for business owners to get involved as well as to learn about the issues. He said there are a lot of business owners interested in the universal health care issue because they cannot afford 20 percent increases in their health insurance costs each year.
He also said individuals are interested as well because they cannot afford co-pays and deductibles.
“We encourage you to get engaged,” Harrison said. “It’s a huge, huge issue.”
Shawn Banfield, state director of NFIB, said the health care issue has been “percolating” since the beginning of the current Legislative session.
Banfield believes there is a lot of momentum behind establishing a single-payer system.
“The business community for the most part has not taken the bull by the horns,” she said. “There’s a lot of dollars at stake.”
