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Steve Flotteron & Mike Brey disagree on the impacts of President Obama's health care law
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And next to me and owner of a small as you describe mom and -- -- -- -- agency joining me.
Your -- and filings against fiance here in New York City and from DC we have my brain the owner of hobby works.
I did toy store fun little store right five locations in -- -- -- employee of 48 employees of which I believe we give a dozen.
Health care.
Radically different views and -- you are for.
The new health -- law Steve you are against it.
Yes so let's before we begin battling this out for AMOCO oblique discussing it.
Let's take a listen to something President Obama said during the second debate at Hofstra University -- -- So four years ago I stood -- -- just like this from exit -- town -- I said I would cut taxes for middle class families and that's what I've done.
By 3600 dollars.
Let's that I would cut taxes for small businesses were the drivers and engines of growth we -- eighteen times.
And I wanna continue.
Those tax cuts.
For middle class families and for small businesses.
-- -- We'll start with you do you agree that everything the president said he's done that he has truly -- I do for the most part this this administration has been by it to my eyes -- -- -- -- most small business friendly administrations since I started my company nearly twenty years ago.
When you look at a lot of the things that they did with the small the original small business jobs act and -- the extension of that 4010.
It was chock full -- Nice little tidbits for businesses and like -- to go -- went right to the bottom line things like the changes to section 179.
Deductions.
The loss changes to loss carry back rules -- mean these were things that we were able to use.
Right away right in the heart of the recession and if there is any things that this administration has done for businesses in my view it's.
Focus on small businesses okay.
Steve -- on yes do you agree that this has been a small business friendly administration.
Not at all just look at our economy look what's happened small businesses and large businesses in this country.
This is just and another.
This is government taking over whole industry that is nothing it's lot of good buzz words about you know happy you know people want -- -- that everyone be covered.
But some of course I was just a simple question where's the money gonna come from to pay for these new mandates -- comes from somewhere -- not talking about there is no specifics.
And it's it's that.
It's simply who's gonna work right okay regarding the health Carolina yes do you -- -- of your employees right now health coverage right now mountains where we're independent contractors and our office.
All right so this -- inside and you would consider doing.
Not for myself and -- represent my cell group medical insurance -- our offices in between our practitioners we have couple hundred is a small business clients on Long Island in a five -- what are they telling you about offering health insurance is they they already are flipping out on finding a lot of a lot of times are ready where -- -- -- small -- businesses have their small law firm -- so local deli.
Their spouses are getting some times local government jobs just -- the medical they dropping -- -- the business.
The businesses are so bad right now they can't afford the increases in this is just coming -- the level of taxes just look at the Medicare system along.
Now OK well -- I think you disagree you're kind of what intent is -- Carolina right you say it.
It's going to be good for you end for your workers explain well.
Yeah I -- you know I got into this health care thing because I served on the board of directors the local hospital years ago so I started paying attention.
But the fact of the matter is that.
I'm getting a little bit and echo here.
The fact of the matter is that this.
Health most of what you're hearing about this and objections from us from small business owners.
Our based on misinformation.
Myths.
At several.
The fact of the matter is it is for businesses that have hundred point five employees and this is not a bad thing it's a good thing because it enables them.
To provide health care where they weren't able to before.
And the answer of the gentleman's question we -- where's the money gonna come from.
What comes from people who already wants to have health insurance and weren't able to afford it before and so they're the ones who are paying how how old is lower your costs -- -- well where we're in Maryland and Maryland mandates already small group so a lot of what you have in this health care law sort of you know some of the things the the continuation of coverage preexisting conditions that are like -- already mandated by -- -- because Maryland is one of only a few states that -- that we don't have a lot of choice.
A kind of fact we only have three choices.
In health care now.
So for me it'll be great because.
All if you -- -- be in health -- business you're going to have to offer a slate of plans.
And so in Maryland it will be much more competitive and we'll have more people choose from and I expected to come back.
A -- and Steve when -- was talking to -- writers earlier and I say you know.
This is going to be interesting to see the forty plus employees businesses.
China standard -- so they don't have to employee coverage and he yeah I saw you shake your head you really can't that's right.
How come you really think this -- saw that this is sorry not gonna hire business.
In New York -- we have community rating look to.
Where people have health conditions they're covered and a cover for those conditions are -- -- we have a local congressman's announcing how they're gonna solve this problem jury has been in the state.
But the problem is right now New York State full time employees considers low lowest twenty hours we have -- -- business owners already that are -- -- announced twenty Alice in New York State for small businesses you can be a number of medical plan.
And -- have now where most live employees have people seventeen hampered nineteen -- -- -- or -- trend that's put -- -- plant.
At first the million people seem like it's a great way to get inexpensive insurance because of this be cheaper to pay the following -- seems like.
But it's gonna happen is really that's -- sort of I'd look here's the plan of -- with the government taking moment the whole health care industry.
And you look at past history New York State before the community rating -- came in in the ninety's.
Blue cross.
Was there was a plane of lift -- what they got -- -- pricing when he went to the hospital -- -- much cheaper and the other insurance companies with tax to help try to build the map.
So we get soon along the insurance company stocks -- the market and you forced to go to the government plan.
It is the government running it because on Friday there's this deadline where the governors across the US have to say.
Whether there can offer a state exchange so if you're -- the company doesn't provide health insurance that consumer can shop for an exchange.
In that state so you're not required do it sending government would offer the exchange snow and the potential -- this.
-- how is this government running health care.
The -- government running health care what is his government providing an opportunity for all of this gentleman's independent contractors to go out and get health insurance the government's not running anything.
At the end of the day you're still going to the same insurance companies you always -- people and -- And you're not gonna have people fleeing the market because now the entire country will be the market and so the idea that these insurance -- -- -- suddenly get a pack up and go out of business is preposterous.
And the idea that the federal government is running health care is also preposterous all they've done.
It's what many states have done with his way out certain guidelines and then they're providing hopefully through the states these exchanges where independent contractors like.
Finally he employees and and people who are also who -- self employed.
Can go out and get health insurance and small businesses can also participate you -- can go to these exchanged a look and say hey can I get a better deal here gonna get a better deal there so so the the very idea that this is the the government running health care.
I completely objective.
I appreciate.
-- -- opinion and point well made might follow up question for you.
You offered twelve employees health care at a 48 are those numbers accurate.
Yes there are you gonna extend.
Health care coverage meaning increasing some hour or -- more people would qualify what's your plan.
Sure -- people -- plan is first of all mostly I have retail employees lots of part timers those people tend to be lower wage so -- we offer.
Health care to a lot of them.
Many often not to take it.
So we're hoping to provide.
-- to give those people who opt not to take it for cost reasons the opportunity.
To access health care.
We -- not -- plants open two stores next here.
We are not -- us slowdown hiring employees so you all about the update here at 48 and -- will go about fifty.
-- -- -- -- A pet so it's you know but like like 96%.
Of businesses over fifty employees we are already offering health insurance and so the pool of businesses that or are not offering health insurance is.
To work is actually a very small percentage we're gonna have 4% and you take it business like this gentleman's concerns business he's got independent contractors.
So this -- affect him anyway.
So this is an opportunity for those people to go out -- get health insurance on their own.
-- -- affect his business and one bit.
Well but what -- is saying I hear every Wednesday everything we do the Fox Business.
Small business -- so it's not just Steve saying is it's many people saying yes but -- -- -- you want to welcome.
What it affects my -- -- of clients that are set of buying these products and it -- Cuban saying he's buzz words of like.
Why why do we wanna go between that -- planned idea was how we get the expenses that does not think addressed -- expenses this is is a government another tax.
Look at the -- with the Medicare system.
In the upstate when you sell a senior above 65.
Date because of medical Medicare doesn't cover everything -- -- give part B they have to pay for they'd be party the drug plan and a supplement.
An average senior even -- they -- paid all their life all these taxes.
To Medicare.
Because -- pay about 400 dollars a month per person.
And premium more than 400 -- So he's still not having these government playing -- these additional taxes to supplements as much as individual plans right now.
A lot of small business owners who stay on the group HMO.
Because it's the same price as all the supplements and they don't have to have a donor hold -- -- BD on a drug plan.
Many were able to happen so it's is nothing here is addressing union expenses down and just look like yet look again -- these programs run by the government.
What's happened in New York area just with but flight for MTA.
And kick the government -- cannot manage -- its profit we want capitalism private -- -- The base rate IRN or.
War back to this the government thinks the government's -- the -- not mentioned things.
Beat -- we are addressing the costs here because of you know the biggest hidden tax in health insurance.
Are people who don't have insurance the fact of the matter is when people don't have insurance.
They still use the health care system.
And that's what's not being paid for and so this does address that any significant way because now.
Although people who who refused to get health insurance they will be paying into -- fit into the system at a massive amount of money that we didn't have in the system before.
And so again the idea that this is another government run this program that's going to somehow fail.
That that this flawed and by the way there's plenty of government run programs that work great.
The fact of the matter is you would I Laura can go get a -- -- burger McDonald's order restaurant or from a roadside car.
And have a reasonable expectation we're not gonna die.
Because we have the USDA.
And the fact the matter is that.
That's an example of a government program working really really well.
My pregnant so they are out -- so much thank you for your -- -- and good luck TO the owner of -- works in Maryland -- I don't think you so much for coming on as you well.
