Forbes talks health care, tax reform at Wilkes University lecture March 1

Feb. 15--Steve Forbes, chairman and editor-in-chief of Forbes Media and two-time Republican candidate for president, said he won't run for the office again, but continues to offer his two cents on policy issues.

"The answer is, been there, tried that," he said during a conference call with reporters Tuesday. "Now I'm an agitator."

Forbes will discuss issues such as healthcare reform, taxes and other current issues during the Allan P. Kirby Lecture in Free Enterprise and Entrepreneurship at 7 p.m. March 1 at the Dorothy Dickson Darte Center, corner of River and South streets.

The free event, "An Evening of Insights with Steve Forbes," is co-sponsored by the Young America's Foundation and will be followed by a book signing. Forbes' books will be available for purchase at the event.

Forbes, who endorsed Donald Trump for president last summer, believes Trump's planned tax cuts for individuals and businesses will be a major boost for the economy, but worries about a Republican tariff plan that could hurt consumers.

He said a "border adjustment tax," a plan favored by Republicans in which U.S. companies would be taxed on domestic income and imports and the corporate tax rate would be cut to 20 percent, would result in a hike in gas prices, forcing retailers and other industries to raise prices, as well.

"That will take $125 billion out of the pockets of ... working families," said Forbes. "Republicans say they need the money to pay for other tax cuts, but that defeats the purpose of a tax cut."

Forbes, a presidential candidate in 1996 and 2000, is a proponent of tax reform and believes a flat tax would simplify a complicated system. He said countries like Hong Kong have had success with similar tax structures.

"I think it's still an excellent idea," he said. "... We know it works in the real world."

When it comes to health care, Forbes said "Obamacare is falling apart," but believes a new, patient-centered system needs to take its place -- one that would allow a nationwide market, more pricing transparency and patient control over their policies.

"I live in New Jersey," he said. "I can buy a car or a bottle of water in Pennsylvania, but I can't buy insurance."

Forbes also discussed the changing landscape for media professionals in the digital age. As editor-in-chief of the business magazine started by Forbes' grandfather, B.C. Forbes and his partner Walter Drey, he believes the outlook for the industry is positive, as long as companies make themselves unique and offer value to readers.

"Everything I learned in the business, up to the late '90s and early 2000s has gone out the window," said Forbes. "We had to start all over again."

Today, Forbes said much of the magazine's revenue comes from its website rather than its print component. A structure in which the website employs nearly 2,000 freelance writers allows Forbes.com to publish "110,000 articles a year," he said.

"We live in an era where you can eat well or sleep well, but not both," he said.

To register for Forbes' lecture at Wilkes University, visit http://bit.ly/2lGX4LU.

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