Politics & Government

Schneider Criticizes Obamacare Roll Out

North Shore Congressman tells north suburban chambers of commerce his views on Affordable Care Act, how they are important to economic growth.

Rep. Brad Schneider (D-Deerfield) expressed dissatisfaction in last month’s roll out of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) during a talk to more than 100 people from six area chambers of commerce Friday at the Lake Forest Club.

After telling the crowd how important they were to building economic growth, Sue McWilliams wanted to know how Schneider foresaw the growth of the ACA in the next year and five years into the future. He first talked about his feelings about the Oct. 1 roll out.

“I was disappointed in the roll out. It never should have happened (that way),” Schneider said. “There are some disappointed with the roll out who do not want to fix it. If we don’t work together to (fix it) it’s going to be hard to make it work.”

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Schneider’s primary message was an economic one. He talked about the role small business plays in the American economy and the 10th Congressional District in particular. He said the area represented the nation’s third largest concentration of manufacturing and it was the right kind.

“These aren’t smokestack industries,” Schneider said. “These are 21st century advanced skills jobs that will lead the country. These are jobs what will add value to our communities. These are jobs that will have a growth multiplier.

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Touting his Learning Education Achieving and Retraining for the Nation (LEARN) Act introduced Thursday, he explained how it will help chamber members find the right kind of talent to fuel their businesses.

“It expands on-the-job training programs to help businesses invest in people, hiring and training new employees to grow their businesses and provide quality jobs to those looking for work. By expanding public-private partnerships, businesses can train workers with the precise skills they need.”

In response to a question from Mark Williams of Highland Park, Schneider expressed his support for a bill in Congress to tax Internet sales. “We need to level the playing field,” Schneider said. “We should not have distinctions. It will make the downtowns thrive.”

When answering a question about immigration reform, Schneider said he thinks it should be a priority and include a path to citizenship.

“We can’t have two classes of citizens,” Schneider said. He also wants people who come from other lands for education to be able to stay. “Too many people get their degrees here and are sent away.” He wants them to use their entrepreneurial skills in the United States.

Representatives of the Highland Park, Lake Forest Lake Bluff, GLMV (Green Oaks, Libertyville, Mundelein and Vernon Hills), Lincolnshire, Waukegan and North Chicago Chambers of Commerce were there.

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