It's been a while since I posted, because it's been a while since I added any new designs to the Republican Shop store.The main reason for this, is my husband and I have been working very hard to start a business. His dream. For many years my husband has wanted to start, own, and operate his own Caribbean restaurant in Minnesota.
We've literally poured all of our resources, time, energy and creativity into this venture and are so proud to finally, as of this past December, have our restaurant. We purchased a small cafe that seats 40 and have been spending the past few months working hard to fix up the place, paint it, renovate it, and change the menu for an anticipated grand-reopening in April when we'll have our renovations complete.
In the process of us both quitting our day jobs, naturally we had to find health insurance for our family of 5. Happy to have found a plan that fits our needs, though expensive, has just been put into effect.
Being a small business owner has brought with it a huge learning curve. But we learned quickly what we could and could not afford. And health insurance for our employees is certainly not something a small restaurant like ours could probably ever afford, being that the costs of running it are so high. Times are tight now and us owners take a cut in pay to make ends meet for the business.
So why am I posting all of this?
We are outraged. Furious. Saddened.
This health care reform bill that was just passed would impose a $700+ fine for us on each of our employees if we do not provide them with health insurance. I also found out today that the state of Minnesota just passed a law that would add on additional state taxes and fines if we did not provide our employees with health insurance. We, as individuals, also would face having to change our health plan, tailored to our families' needs, to eventually switch to one of the soon to be government mandated, "acceptable" plans.
Tell me, where are we supposed to get the money for these added fines/taxes/premiums? The short answer is that when the time comes, we'll have to lay people off, jack up our prices, or close. It's not easy to face the fact that we're barely getting our dream off the ground, only to have it squashed by greed in Washington. It makes me sick.
So how can you help? What can you do? I'm surprised at how many of my own friends have no idea this is going on, or just plain don't care. Besides wearing one of our Republican Shop shirts to a rally, or stopping by our restaurant for a meal to help us pay our bills, employees, and grow our business, talk to your friends, talk to your representatives. Let people know that you care and that this fight is not over. Freedom must prevail.
