Texas Insider Report: WASHINGTON, D.C. – Rep. Pete Olson (TX-22), along with Rep. Todd Young (IN-9), introduced legislation to protect American workers from a damaging provision in the Obamacare health law. In a show of conservative strength, 111 other members of Congress are also cosponsors.
The definition of a full-time employee has traditionally meant 40 hours per week. But buried in the massive law is a new definition changing it to only 30 hours. This will force employers to reduce many part-time employees’ hours to less than 30 hours to avoid the onerous insurance mandates of Obamacare, causing incredible hardships on these wage earners and their families. These wage earners will be forced to juggle schedules, factor in traveling time to multiple jobs, track multiple paychecks for tax purposes, and manage being on potentially different pay periods, to make up the difference.
The Save American Workers (SAW) Act, H.R. 2575, will repeal the 30-hour definition of “full-time employment” in Obamacare and restore the traditional 40-hour definition. At a hearing before the House Energy and Commerce Committee last week, a Pennsylvania manufacturer said that over one year, they expect to pay $48,000 in additional fees resulting from Obamacare, with no change in the coverage offered to their employees.
“As atrocious as the government intrusion into healthcare is under Obamacare, the 30-hour definition is tying the hands of employers by forcing them to reduce many of their part-time employees’ hours,” Rep. Pete Olson said. “This is a direct hit to job creation and the pocketbooks of struggling families, single parents and young Americans who need to work. Obamacare is wreaking havoc on our economy and it’s not even fully in place yet. That’s why I have opposed this law from day one and will continue to do all I can to protect Americans by voting to fully repeal it and ensuring we protect employees when possible.”
Businesses across Texas and the nation have expressed their opposition to numerous parts of Obamacare, especially this provision. Many have announced they will have to reduce hourly employees to 29 hours or less to comply with the law’s requirements and corresponding high costs. As we approach January 1, 2014, when the law is scheduled to go into effect, these numbers will only grow. Click here for a video of Olson questioning businesses about the 30-hour work week impacts during a recent House Energy and Commerce Committee hearing.
