Obama defends health care reform to small biz owners

Obama is striking back against critics who say his plan for health care reform will crush small businesses. He talked to entrepreneurs in a Thursday address at the White House, saying they're being misled.



Obama said: "Now, there is no doubt that this legislation, and the legislation that's being drafted in the Senate, would benefit millions of small businesses. It's being written with the interests of Americans like you and your employees in mind.

"And yet, there are those who have a vested interest in the status quo who are claiming otherwise, and they're using misleading figures and disingenuous arguments. So I want to try to explain as clearly as I can exactly what health reform would mean for small business owners like you and the workers you employ.

"The first thing I want to make clear is that if you are happy with the insurance plan that you have right now, if the costs you're paying and the benefits you're getting are what you want them to be, then you can keep offering that same plan. Nobody will make you change it."

Read the rest of his remarks at www.washingtonpost.com.