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The latest on the Key Bridge collapse, New York puts forth legislation to get clean energy projects on the grid and Wisconsin and other states join a federal summer food program to help feed kids across the country.

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Republicans float conspiracy theories on the collapse of Baltimore's Key Bridge, South Carolina s congressional elections will use a map ruled unconstitutional, and the Senate schedules an impeachment trial for Homeland Secretary Myorkas.

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VA Small Business Owner Speaks out at Rally for Health Care

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Thursday, February 18, 2010   

RICHMOND, Va. - Religious groups, small business owners and workers are saying, "Wake up Washington - we need health care reform now!" That's the message at a rally this morning in the State Capitol.

Faced with the prospect of more health care cuts in Virginia due to budget woes and reform that appears to be at a near stand-still in Washington, D.C., Tammy Rostov, a small business owner in Richmond, is speaking out. Rostov, a member of The Virginia Main Street Alliance, owns Rostov's Coffee & Tea in Richmond, which has been in her family for years. Like other business owners who have faced a bad economy, she says she worries that health insurance will soon be out of reach unless changes are made.

"My rates went up 42 percent. I paid $850 a month for 2009 and when my new rates came out for 2010, the premiums have gone up to $1,452 - and that is with a $2,000 deductible."

Rostov would like to see limits on the amount that insurance premiums can go up each year; she says health care reform with a public option would give consumers and small businesses like hers a much-needed break. Opponents of a public option say it would create unfair competition for insurance companies and be too costly for taxpayers.

Rostov says her family business has always offered health insurance to full-time employees, but that could change if the costs continue to rise.

"At this rate, I know I won't be able to be covered, and my employees won't be able to be covered, and I'm afraid that we are going to have a country of uncovered people. But if I have to choose between keeping my business going and offering health insurance, I'm going to have to choose my business."

The health care reform rally is scheduled for 11 a.m. today at the Bell Tower, Richmond.



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