ROANOKE TIMES 

                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SATURDAY, January 29, 1994                   TAG: 9402250039
SECTION: EDITORIAL                    PAGE: A-9   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

DON'T DITHER

THE COST of employee fringe benefits, including health care, rose by a modest 3.5 percent in 1993 - the lowest rate in six years, according to U.S. government figures.

The report offers evidence for hope. With these costs under control, there's less upward pressure on inflation. The effect is to sustain consumers' buying power and lenders' confidence.

What the latest figures don't offer is a reason to dither on health-care reform. Rising costs, as well as problems of insufficient access and preventive care, remain with us - and still require congressional action this year. 


 by CNB