In a House vote of 248 to 179 last Thursday, the definition of full-time employee under The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) was changed from 30 hours per week back to 40 hours per week. The bill was sponsored by Rep Todd C. Young, a Republican from Indiana. This majority vote included House Republicans along with 18 Democrats, most of whom are at risk of losing re-election this year.
Republicans contend that the reduced work hours unfairly impact workers such as substitute teachers, hotel workers, adjunct professors, and cafeteria and restaurant workers. Employers continue to reduce the hours of part-timers in order to avoid the mandatory insurance coverage at the 30-hour level, and thus, the penalties associated with the Employer Mandate. They argue that the law is actually hurting the lower-wage earners that it was supposedly designed to help. House Republicans have vowed to continue to work to repeal PPACA, as evidenced by the 55 times they have voted to diminish all, or parts, of the law.
Based on the findings in a report by the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, President Obama threatened to veto the House bill. The report cited the loss of employer-sponsored coverage for 1 million people, which would result in an increase of 500,000 uninsured if the full-time definition were to return to 40 hours per week.
Despite the passing of this bill in the House, the idea of it passing in the Democratic-controlled Senate is unlikely. However, some Democratic senators have expressed an interest in having an open discussion with Republicans to negotiate how to adjust the health-care law’s work rules, especially in consideration of the aforementioned industries.
