President Barack Obama says he’s giving mid-size businesses more time to comply with his health care law because the goal is not to punish anyone.

Obama says the companies are trying to get right with the law and provide insurance for their employees. But they need more time to meet their responsibility.

The Obama administration on Monday delayed a requirement that medium-to-larger firms provide health care for their workers or face fines. The administration said companies with 50 to 99 employees will have an additional year to comply with the coverage requirement, until January 1, 2016.

Republicans trying to win control of the Senate in the November elections are making the health care law their top issue, criticizing it as a job-costing burden on businesses and individuals.

(AP)