Last month Pennsylvania lawmakers missed a priceless opportunity to connect with their constituents. More than a dozen representatives from the state House's Insurance and Democratic Policy committees and a standing-room-only crowd listened as SMC Business Councils members described how exorbitant health insurance premium increases have debilitated their small businesses.

Health insurance costs are consistently one of the top concerns of small business owners and the self-employed. But the destructive rate increases discussed by the small business owners at the state hearings, held July 20 at the Penn Hills library, no doubt were beyond the comprehension of the committee members and most of the audience.

One small businessperson is paying $32,000 this year for health insurance, up 61 percent from $19,918 last year. Now it takes his spouse's entire paycheck just to pay for insurance.

A small business owner who runs an auto repair shop has ruled out expanding her business and hiring employees. Contributions to college funds and retirement have been on hold. Her insurance premium increased 37 percent to $31,440 this year.

Another said his premiums increased 96 percent over the past four years for himself and his employee. This year his premium rose to $26,975. It's now the second-largest item in his budget next to salaries.

Small businesses will continue to be burdened by high health care costs despite the new federal health care law. The Affordable Care Act expands coverage but fails to get at the root of the problem, which has always been cost. New taxes and fees and insurance market reforms -- such as the elimination of lifetime limits, annual limits and pre-existing condition exclusions -- will raise premiums.

This is the reality small employers must live with. We wonder if the people making the laws really understand.

After giving his testimony at last month's hearing, an SMC member asked the key question of Insurance Committee Chairman Anthony DeLuca, D-Penn Hills. Would his testimony matter? Would it make a difference?

Rep. DeLuca noted that it was important for small employers to speak up because they are one of the few lobbies large enough to have an impact.

Well, state representatives lack the authority to limit high health insurance rates. But there is something they do have control over. They could at least show they understand the plight of small businesses and others who bear the weight of our health insurance system by contributing to their own premiums. Members of the Pennsylvania House don't pay a dime for health insurance.

The commonwealth is facing a gaping $5 billion dollar deficit next year. Just about every resident of the state is struggling to pay for health care. Small businesses are being slammed with crippling rate increases. Not only are our lawmakers insulated from the cost of health insurance, they are receiving a gift from the taxpayers that we no longer can afford.

Wouldn't it have been extraordinary if just one of the legislators at the hearing had said: "Yes, your testimony does matter because, after hearing it today, we will make it a top priority to pass legislation requiring that all members of the Pennsylvania House contribute to their own health insurance."

Such a statement wouldn't lower health insurance premiums or prevent more rate increases for our small business members, but it would send a strong message. At least on the other side of the capitol, state senators contribute something to their health-insurance premiums -- 1 percent of their salaries.

Legislation was introduced in the House on April 30 by freshman Rep. Frank Farry, R-Langhorne, that would phase in contributions over 10 years so that lawmakers eventually would contribute 20 percent of the cost of their health insurance premiums. HB 2481 has a paltry 20 co-sponsors out of 253 representatives.

By contributing to their own health insurance, lawmakers would show us they understand our problems and just might be able to make the hard decisions and personal sacrifices necessary to confront high health care costs and the state's runaway budget deficits.

That would send a powerful message in an election year.

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