Steve Forbes

" The White House is dealing with poll numbers that are going in the wrong direction right now on health care take a look at just this just one of them. There's a whole series of these polls but this one says according to Gallup that 45%. Of the people who responded. 45% think that after this is said and done their health care costs are going to rise. As a result 30%. Expect -- to go lower. 14% think it costs will not change at all so let's bring in the president and CEO of Forbes editor in chief of -- magazines to Ford's. Mr. -- welcome -- to -- your safety and to be with you thank you. So -- about you know what's your take on this we have about six different versions working their way -- congress what do you think -- office."

" Why I think it's a good thing there's so many versions around and that can't get a full agreement on -- at least on the Senate side. Because what they've been proposed in the worsening healthcare in America not better it. Government cannot control costs except by rationing. -- and eventually do away with private health insurance plans by running them out of business for regulating them away. It'll mean higher taxes so it's lose lose all around and also it's gonna hurt. Outcomes of for example in America you -- prostate cancer you have a 90% chance of recovery and country -- the government runs a thing it's 50%. So this is really -- life and death issue and it's a good thing they're taking someone that's trained down."

" And you know in the beginning of this of course we had a lot about public option now that idea seems to be. Moving at least somewhat to the wayside but what what's used to be replacing it is this idea co ops. Cooperatives around the country nonprofit organizations that would how to pool their resources to help people who didn't -- part of a plan. Get in -- a plan. It is that a good idea forty think that it's it's -- mask or you know the public option has some say."

" Well there is where the details are gonna matter especially when they have these night sessions and reconcile senate and house bills that's where they slip and a lot of junk. And things that can end up being -- or nationalization. Just one example the Republicans tagged -- a couple of weeks ago but it almost was -- them. Was a provision allowing a lawyer bounty hunters in Medicare. Where you get say in a car accident they consider the person who caused the accident. But the big chunk of money and that kind of thing is at least -- bills are riddled with that kind of stuff. And that's why again a free market solutions such as allowing people buy health insurance around the country instead of being confined -- state -- a good step in the right direct."

" Are you in favor of these co -- plans or against some dumb enough about it yet what do you think well it's co -- sounds nice it's got a nice ring -- yeah. But they'll on the government's running you've got to look clutch your wallet and -- make sure you can still see your own -- you know it's if President Obama are watching us right now he would probably say is city you're scaring the American people that's he says to everybody. Who's the critic of this he says stop scaring people nobody is gonna lose their health care insurance if they like their plan. And I decided I deficit neutral according to him what would you say it --"

" Well that the CBO Congressional Budget Office has -- the way the illusion this is it going to be revenue neutral every expert knows it's gonna add a trillion trillion half dollars to health care -- To our taxes at the very least. And in terms of scaring people with scary what he was proposing a back door subterfuge nationalization of health care not telling the truth the American people. For example he says you can keep your own health insurance not true in five years the government is gonna will be able to regulate what kind of insurance you can and cannot have. And if you leave your job and between now and then you are gonna have to get a government approved plans so he's that's what's scary he's not telling the truth."

" You know LI has been said to switching gears slightly about whether or not President Obama is pro business. Our anti business and he sat down with that -- business magazine recently and this is a quote from from that interview and I wanted to read it to you to get your thoughts on it. He says a number of those who think we're anti business seem to forget. That it was just three or four months ago when at great political expense. We yanked them out of the fire. And they still at least if there in the financial sector are enjoying a whole bunch of government guarantees that are propping up. Their business models we think about that."

" Well I think he's all over the map on that one he is anti business in terms of raising taxes raising taxes on small businesses. The Federal Reserve hasn't gotten the credit system working again. And in terms of yes he inherited a bad hand George Bush make terrible mistakes in the past year. But this administration hasn't done enough to correct those mistakes. As a matter of fact it's made a whole slew of no mistakes started with that stimulus bill which is obviously not done much stimulus."

" he says something about that too he says no I want people who say that. To look at my record I've been in office six months. He says so -- my only tax policy has been to cut taxes for 95% of working people I haven't signed a bill that raised taxes yet. He says to the extent that we've put in place policies they've all been directed at helping businesses."

" Well boy is spin meisters are very good far harder work. That's so called tax cuts a one time rebate. Which you know from experience with George Bush's tax rebates but don't put incentives to get the economy and a sustained path for growth. And every proposal he's made including the other day endorsed and a press conference set -- publicly everyone heard him. That he wants to raise upper income tax levels to help finance so called health care reform. And the bills coming through the house and the Senate are all pro tax increases. On the democratic side. So his actions and his word for -- has just been rhetoric. And in terms of that help helping out business the best help for business rupiah having a policy of the strong and stable dollar. Reducing the tax and regulatory burdens on people these advocated for example the so called cap and trade which is a massive tax increase on energy. What could be very have harmful to the American economy specially -- if."

" let's take a look at this recent piece of south and the press I get your thoughts on that Tuesday."

" The latest cover of Newsweek. Says quote the recession is all."

" I'll bet you found this news little startling. I know I do. Because obviously people are going through a tough time all across the country. What is true is is that the economy has stopped going through the free fall but we saw at the beginning of the year. The market is up. The financial system is no longer. On the verge of collapse. We got news yesterday that for the first time in three years. Housing prices had actually gone up. When I took office we're losing. Jobs -- nearly. Double the rate the -- losing them now. So we may be seeing the beginning of the end of the recession."

" I realize -- he's quick second sat Steve but what's your take on that what's your spot. Well -- very different rhetoric in January and February when he's pushing through a stimulus plan that this is gonna keep unemployment at 8%. We are now -- of recovery phase. Probably three -- 4% real growth rates. But given the magnitude of the fall that should be six to 8% and small businesses are still suffering a credit crunch. Consumers are still not able to get credit the way they should the Federal Reserve -- drop the ball on that one. So intended then the prospect of tax increases it's gonna hurt the pace of recovery next year we took a one year vacation. Instead of just an August vacation in congress did the same we probably would -- vigorous recovery hi Steve Forbes pleasure to have you sir thank you very much remain let me. You can I take that -- week vacation to absolutely."