WISCONSINREPORT.COM (09/15/2009) - Small business owners have been calling their Representatives and Senators to urge them to support health care reform legislation that cuts costs, stops insurance companies from discriminating against people with pre-existing conditions and gives people the option of a public plan.

According to the Wisconsin Public Interest Research Group (WISPIRG), in the first day of calling nearly 400 calls were generated by small businesses nationwide and 50 calls in Wisconsin.

Over the past month, almost 2,000 small business owners from 23 states have signed letters urging their lawmakers to vote for health care reform as part of an effort led by the U.S. Public Interest Research Group, a long-time consumer advocacy organization.

Here in Wisconsin, where WISPIRG ( http://www.wispirg.org/) is leading the effort, 84 have signed on.

"Small businesses are among the hardest hit by rising costs and the abuses in the insurance market," explained Shannon Nelson from WISPIRG.

"Since WISPIRG stands up to powerful interests, it makes sense that we team up with our country’s small business owners to help bring their voices to Washington," Nelson added.

WISPIRG recently released a report based on surveys of hundreds of businesses across the country, The Small Business Dilemma: How Rising Health Care Costs are Tough on Small Business.

The report chronicles the plight of small businesses trying to take care of their employees health care needs while also struggling to survive in tough economic times.

"Elected leaders too often hear only from the well-paid lobbies of Washington groups claiming to speak for small business," said Larry McNeely, U.S. PIRG’s Health Care Advocate in Washington..

"If they take time to listen to the actual owners in their district, they'll hear a different story,"” said McNeely.

WISPIRG claims that despite what WISPIRG says are the obvious benefits that health care reform would bring to America’s small business owners, Washington business lobbies, like the National Federation of Independent Business and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, have been working against the health care legislation working its way through Congress.