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Tom Gillett, Chris Lee, Lou Gordon

Health Care Panel

Rochester Forum: Rep. Chris Lee indicates Fed is growing too big, too fast

By Jim Stinson

A forum on small business became a place to discuss big government and possibly bigger health care plans.

Speaking to the Business and Labor Coalition of New York at Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity School, U.S. Rep. Chris Lee said the federal government is growing too big and expanding its payroll, and that even during the recession Washington, D.C., saw growth in its gross metropolitan product while many other regional economies were contracting.

“The federal government cannot employ all the people in this country,” said Lee, R-Clarence, Erie County, as he ticked off examples of government growth. For that reason, he said, he voted recently against extending the federal debt ceiling by $1.9 trillion.

But not everyone at Friday’s forum agreed that shrinking all government programs would benefit small business.

Some speakers expressed solidarity with President Barack Obama’s plan for health care reform, which seeks to extend insurance coverage to most Americans.

Lee said after his speech that he supports health care reform, and thinks the Democrats and Republicans should pass a bill they can agree on, leaving out parts on which they differ.

Jim Bertolone, Rochester local president of the American Postal Workers Union, noted that health care costs rose through the past decade, from 15 percent of U.S. gross domestic product to 17 percent of GDP.

To combat rising costs, Bertolone suggested applying a program like Medicare to all citizens. He also said that worrying about budget deficits during a time of unprecedented recession was like conserving water during a house fire.

Businesspeople also received advice from banking officials such as Jeffrey Barker, vice president of commercial services at Canandaigua National Bank & Trust.

He advised the approximately 50 people in the audience to maintain good communication with lending officers and not to surprise them by using a line of credit for reasons other than stated on the application.

Many attendees noted the economy, especially credit conditions, was still sour.

“It is a very difficult time for startups,” Barker acknowledged.