WASHINGTON  – President Barack Obama says small businesses that participate in a proposed government health care plan could save a quarter on their premiums by 2016.

Obama on Thursday told small business leaders that few people have a bigger stake in health reform than they do. He says the House version of a health care bill would help millions of small businesses cut growing health care costs and was written with small businesses owners in mind.

Obama says small businesses have been hit harder than most and their owners understand the need for changes to the nation’s health care system.

The president says too many entrepreneurs can’t take a chance on new ideas because they cannot leave their jobs to start new projects. He says that situation hurts the economy.