Obama talks to Joe about health care and small business.

Obama: I'm happy to talk to you, Joe, too, if you're out there. Here is your fine. Zero.

McCain interrupts: Zero??

Obama: Zero. You won't pay a fine because as I said in our last debate I exempt small businesses from the requirement for large businesses that can afford to provide health care to their employees who are not doing it. I exempt small businesses from having to pay into a kitty, but large businesses that can afford it, we have a choice, either they provide health insurance to their employees or somebody has to. Right now what happens is those employees get dumped into the medicaid system which taxpayers pick up or going to the emergency room for uncompensated care which everybody picks up in their premiums. The average family is paying an additional $900 a year in higher premiums because of the uninsured. so here what we do, we exempt small businesses, Joe, if you want to do the right thing with your employees and provide them health insurance we'll give you a 50% credit so you will be able to afford it. If you don't have health insurance or you want to buy into a group plan you will be able to buy into the plan I just described. Now, what we haven't talked about is senator mccain's plan.... (less info)