    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2008, Book II)]
    [September 12, 2008]
    [Pages 1195-1197]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks Following a Discussion on Health Savings Accounts and an
    Exchange With Reporters in Oklahoma City
    September 12, 2008

        The President. I want to thank our participants for joining me here
    in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. I want to thank the mayor, Members of Congress, United States Senator. Most importantly, I want to thank women
    entrepreneurs. Seventy percent of all new jobs in America are created by
    small-businesses owners. Today with us are

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    small-business owners, people who've taken risk in order to realize
    dream, and in so doing have provided job opportunities. These are the
    job creators of the vibrant economy here in Oklahoma.
        One of the real issues--there's a couple of issues that face
    obviously a small-business owner. One, are they--do they have a product
    anybody wants to buy? But also taxes, high taxes make it harder to stay
    in business. I strongly urge the Congress to make the tax relief we
    passed permanent so that taxes won't increase on small businesses.
        But another issue that I hear all the time when I'm talking to
    small-business owners is the issue of health care costs. If you listen
    to anybody who owns a small business, they will tell you that the rising
    cost of health care is troubling not only to their balance sheet, but to
    their soul, because they want their employees to have the best. A small-
    business owner really does care a lot about their employees.
        Today we're talking about a way for small businesses and
    individuals--and large businesses, for that matter--to help to deal with
    rising health care costs. Our goal is to make sure health care is
    available and affordable. And once--one way to help deal with rising
    health care costs is what's called health savings accounts. These are
    ingenious products to help people save, incent people to, you know, take
    care of their bodies, and also make sure that if there's a catastrophic
    illness, they're taken care of. These are products that enable somebody
    to, you know, move from one job to the next and keep their health care
    with them, which is important in the 21st century. They're ways for
    employees to take care of their employees.
        In Oklahoma, a lot of people don't know about health saving
    accounts, and one of the reason I've come down to this part of the
    country is because I do want people to understand they're available and
    they're good. About 6 million people across the country are using health
    savings accounts. The biggest increase is with small-business owners.
        And so today we've had a good discussion with owners who've got a
    health savings account, people who are looking at health savings
    account. I introduced Sandy,
    head of the SBA here, to folks, and if somebody wants to really learn
    about an HSA, just go on hsa.gov, which is an SBA site, so people can
    see whether or not it makes sense for your business or your family.
        Anyway, I do want to thank you all very much for, one, being
    pioneers; two, being risk takers; and three, giving me a chance to hear
    your thoughts and concerns and--about a very innovative way for small
    businesses and individuals to be able to better afford health care.
        Thank you, all.
        Guy was trying to ask a question, but he was in violation of the no
    question policy. [Laughter] Right, Deb [Deb Reichmann, Associated
    Press]?

    Republican Vice Presidential Nominee Sarah Palin

        Q. Did you watch the Palin interview?
        The President. As I said, no question policy. [Laughter] She did
    just fine.

    Note: The President spoke at 10:33 a.m. at the Presbyterian Health
    Foundation Conference Center. In his remarks, he referred to Mayor Mick
    Cornett of Oklahoma City, OK; Sen. Thomas A. Coburn; and Sandy K.
    Baruah, Acting Administrator, Small Business Administration. A portion
    of these remarks could not be verified because the tape was incomplete.

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