Senate Democrats Favor Expansion of Health Plan in Okla.

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Expansion of a program that subsidizes employer health care costs is on Oklahoma Senate Democrats’ small business agenda for the upcoming legislative session.

The Legislature last year enacted Gov. Brad Henry’s plan to help pay for the health insurance costs of small employers.

The program, which went into effect in November, now pays most of the cost of insurance for businesses with 25 or less employees. The Senate wants to expand that to 50 workers, as Henry is expected to propose in his address to the Legislature on Feb. 6.

Senate President Pro Tem Mike Morgan, D-Stillwater, said Oklahoma is consistently ranked among the most business friendly states in the nation.

“We should build on the successes of the past and provide a blueprint for future growth of small businesses in our state,” Morgan said.

Sen. Charles Laster, D-Shawnee, said lawsuit reform in 2003 and 2004 had reduced the number of lawsuits in the state and slowed the rising cost of malpractice insurance premiums for doctors.

He said he has introduced a series of civil justice system reforms that will further reduce frivolous lawsuits, eliminate cases that drag on for years and regulate television advertising by attorneys.

Morgan also proposed a pilot program to offer tax incentives to small businesses that provide tuition assistance and pay for retraining for their employees. The plan offers a tax credit for employers who contribute to “lifelong learning accounts” for their employees.