Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Sen. Collins: Obamacare's 30-Hour Rule Will Damage Businesses
NewsMax ^ | Aug 3, 2013 | By Sandy Fitzgerald

Posted on 08/03/2013 9:36:23 AM PDT by Jim Robinson

Obamacare has "perverse incentives" that allow employers to cut their employees' work hours, says Maine Republican Sen. Susan Collins, who has introduced a bill to change the healthcare law's definition of full time work from 30 hours a week to 40.

Collins, in Saturday's GOP address, noted that under Obamacare, anyone working an average of 30 hours a week is considered full-time, meaning many employers may cut their hours so they won't have to provide them with insurance.

A 40-hour work week is full-time, we all know that," said Collins.

She noted in her address that her family founded a small business in Maine more than 160 years ago that continues to be run by two of her brothers.

"Our economy is built on millions of enterprises just like ours," she said. "It’s not easy to survive in today’s economy. But these employers remain our nation’s job creators. We should be doing all we can to promote policies to help them survive and thrive."

She also agreed that healthcare reform should provide people with access to quality and affordable care "while encouraging economic growth. That’s not what is happening under Obamacare."

Instead, Collins said, Obamacare discourages small businesses from creating jobs and hiring new workers, and "has perverse incentives for employers to reduce the number of hours that their employees can work."

Most small businesses want to provide health insurance, said Collins, but can't afford to do so under Obamacare.

In addition, she said, that while businesses with 50 or more full-time employees are required to provide health insurance or face huge fines, they won't face fines if they only have 49 employees.

"These enormous penalties are a real threat to employers who want to add jobs," she said. "They are a powerful incentive for employers to refrain from hiring...

(Excerpt) Read more at newsmax.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Government; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: abortion; deathpanels; economy; jobs; obamacare; unemployment; zerocare
She also quoted Teamsters President James Hoffa, who said recently that Obamacare will "destroy the foundation of the 40-hour work week that is the backbone of the American middle class."

So simple even a dim can figure it out.

1 posted on 08/03/2013 9:36:23 AM PDT by Jim Robinson
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: Jim Robinson

Brilliant analysis, Senator. And it only took a year and a half for you to figure it out. Gawd, the GOPe is beyond pathetic.


2 posted on 08/03/2013 9:40:46 AM PDT by Common Sense 101 (Hey libs... If your theories fly in the face of reality, it's not reality that's wrong.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Common Sense 101
Obamacare has "perverse incentives" that allow employers to cut their employees' work hours...

"Allow"? Is King Zero now in charge of all businesses and can tell them how many hours an employee may work?

I don't like the wording of that sentence. I think it displays a subservient mindset for everything Obama. OK, so I'm a paranoid cynic. With King Zero as President, you need to watch every word he says and what the hidden meaning is behind them.

3 posted on 08/03/2013 9:44:41 AM PDT by jeffc (The U.S. media are our enemy)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Jim Robinson

ok so why did she vote for cloture on the bill if she knew it was so damaging? She could have kept if from coming to the Senate floor iirc.

It’s her friggin’ job.

She needs to go and Maine needs someone to represent Maine.


4 posted on 08/03/2013 9:45:01 AM PDT by Principled
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Jim Robinson
Wow. Sen. Collins came out of her stupor again. I guess it's going to be an early Spring. /sarc
5 posted on 08/03/2013 9:48:00 AM PDT by Cowboy Bob (Democrats: Robbing Peter to buy Paul's vote.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Jim Robinson

Yet you voted for cloture?!?!

She’s trying to provide some cover for herself...nothing more.

Hey Senator Stupid: how is it we dumb Tea Party hicks were able to figure out what would happen when ObamaCare was implemented, but you brilliant elites couldn’t?

These politicians should be given a speedy trial and hung!


6 posted on 08/03/2013 9:50:51 AM PDT by Artcore
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Artcore

This collins idiot voted for cloture which allowed this monstrosity to continue. She is a complete republican loser who is so conflicted and confused that she probably doesn’t know who or where she is.


7 posted on 08/03/2013 9:54:29 AM PDT by hal ogen (First Amendment or Reeducation Camp?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: Jim Robinson

Susan is slow but she finally gets there. :-)


8 posted on 08/03/2013 9:55:40 AM PDT by Georgia Girl 2 (The only purpose of a pistol is to fight your way back to the rifle you should never have dropped.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Jim Robinson
When people complain about RINOs...particularly those of the Northeastern variety (Collins,Scott Brown,etc)...they must remember that not a single Republican in the Senate voted for OsamaObamaCare.Not Brown,not Snowe and not Collins.And now we have this from Collins.

Just food for thought.

9 posted on 08/03/2013 9:57:47 AM PDT by Gay State Conservative (If Obama Had A City It Would Look Like Detroit.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: jeffc

It would not surprise me at all to see the day arrive when employers are fined or otherwise sanctioned for laying people off.


10 posted on 08/03/2013 9:58:47 AM PDT by daler
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: hal ogen
“This collins idiot voted for cloture which allowed this monstrosity to continue. She is a complete republican loser who is so conflicted and confused that she probably doesn’t know who or where she is.”
_______________________________________________________

Yep! And to add insult to injury, she and her staff will be exempt from this monstrosity and given a subsidy. As I said, these POS should be hung for what they've done to this nation!

11 posted on 08/03/2013 10:00:25 AM PDT by Artcore
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: Jim Robinson
"A 40-hour work week is full-time, we all know that," said Collins.

Tell that to the French who think 35 hours is full-time.

Maybe Obama is just getting ahead of the curve and further dumbing down the work week to 30 hours so that more people can make less money in a stagnating economy.

12 posted on 08/03/2013 10:01:13 AM PDT by who_would_fardels_bear
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Jim Robinson
I don't follow this. If Obamacare says that 30 hours is full-time, employers presumably cut hours to 29 (or less) to avoid the mandate. Do they then hire additional part-time workers to make up the labor gap?

But if it's raised to 40 hours (the normal full-time job), they'll still cut the hours to a part-time level, but the hours wouldn't have to be reduced as much - they'd only need to cut one hour to avoid the mandate instead of 11, and might not need - depending on the nature of the work - to hire any new employees at all. At the least, they'd need to hire fewer part-time workers. Is that the trade-off she's talking about? Is she hoping existing employees will only need to take a one-hour cut instead of an 11-hour one?
13 posted on 08/03/2013 10:01:48 AM PDT by Steve_Seattle
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Georgia Girl 2

“Susan is slow but she finally gets there. :-)”
________________________________________________

Slow my A$$! This was purposeful...AND, she and her staff will be exempted from this laws devastating effects!

She is the reason this POS law is a reality!


14 posted on 08/03/2013 10:02:37 AM PDT by Artcore
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: Jim Robinson

Another RINO idiot trying to put a patch a sinking boat.


15 posted on 08/03/2013 10:02:44 AM PDT by AdaGray (Primary Them All)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Principled
"ok so why did she vote for cloture on the bill if she knew it was so damaging? She could have kept if from coming to the Senate floor iirc."

Probably no one who voted for the law actually read it.
16 posted on 08/03/2013 10:02:46 AM PDT by Steve_Seattle
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: Artcore

Yeh I was kidding. She is a total RINO.


17 posted on 08/03/2013 10:03:42 AM PDT by Georgia Girl 2 (The only purpose of a pistol is to fight your way back to the rifle you should never have dropped.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]

To: who_would_fardels_bear

As somebody who has been working full-time for over 30 years, I would love to get “down” to a 40-hr work week. That would seem like a part-time job to me. I’ve been working 60+ hours a week all of my adult life.


18 posted on 08/03/2013 10:04:43 AM PDT by SamAdams76
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

To: Georgia Girl 2

“Yeh I was kidding. She is a total RINO.”
___________________________________________

I didn’t mean to take my frustration out on you. I think we’re all so absolutely sick and tired of these idiots destroying our nation through destructive laws, and then claiming ignorance, that we’ve all reached our limits.

I loath these people to the core!


19 posted on 08/03/2013 10:07:13 AM PDT by Artcore
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 17 | View Replies]

To: Steve_Seattle
Probably no one who voted for the law actually read it.

Yeah I know! That's what I'm saying - it's her damn job to know what she's freakin' voting on. It's her job to say "I'm not voting for this until I know what it says". DAMN!

She was vote 60 IIRC. GRRRRRRRRR

20 posted on 08/03/2013 10:08:07 AM PDT by Principled
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]

To: Jim Robinson

Sounds like she is trying to put people completely out of business by changing this to a 40 hour rule. At least with 30 hours they can keep operating with part-timers.

GOP had better nip this one in the bud, it will only help dems keep obamacare in effect and destroy businesses.


21 posted on 08/03/2013 10:16:14 AM PDT by FrankR (They will become our ultimate masters the day we surrender the 2nd Amendment.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Jim Robinson

This 30 hour work week is a socialist idea. To their way of socialist thinking all the central government has to do is edict a 30 hour work week and poof ! Just like magic all manufacurers will have to hire more employees to make the widgets to fill the orders that don’t come because of the increase in per unit costs dumped on them created by the central planners.

It’s just like believing artifically increasing the costs of fuel by restricting new refineries , drilling on Fed lands, and only 50 employees for a new pipeline. So having it be transported by railroad to processing centers who’s owner is a key contributer (Buffett) may increase the costs.

But its benefits will be; We’ll double the minimum wage,be saving the world from climate change, while letting other countrys eliminate US manufacturing jobs that will make US dependent on the central government for support.

I have a better idea defund Obamacare and dump Collins while we’re at it.


22 posted on 08/03/2013 10:20:41 AM PDT by mosesdapoet (Serious contribution pause.Please continue onto meaningless venting no one reads.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Common Sense 101

New word to describe all of the RAT-RINO-LIBS:

***************LIBIOT*****************


23 posted on 08/03/2013 10:24:29 AM PDT by Polyxene (Out of the depths I have cried to Thee, O Lord; Lord, hear my voice.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Principled
ok so why did she vote for cloture on the bill if she knew it was so damaging? She could have kept if from coming to the Senate floor iirc.

I believe that's right. She had her opportunity to vote against cloture back in 2010, but failed to do so, along with several other senators who really should have displayed better sense at the time.
24 posted on 08/03/2013 10:30:38 AM PDT by Milton Miteybad (I am Jim Thompson. {Really.})
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: Jim Robinson

So now we’d have 39 hour people with no insurance instead of 29 hour people? I’m not sure this idea has been thought fully through...

To me the problem isn’t the number of hours at which a punishing regulation kicks in, the problem is that there is punishing regulation.


25 posted on 08/03/2013 10:36:28 AM PDT by Cyber Liberty (Justice for Trayvon: Dig up his body and shoot him again.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: All
 photo 

CareerDay.png

Help FR Continue the Conservative Fight!
Your Monthly and Quarterly Donations
Help Keep FR In the Battle!

Sponsoring FReepers are contributing
$10 Each time a New Monthly Donor signs up!
Get more bang for your FR buck!
Click Here To Sign Up Now!


26 posted on 08/03/2013 10:43:14 AM PDT by musicman (Until I see the REAL Long Form Vault BC, he's just "PRES__ENT" Obama = Without "ID")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 25 | View Replies]

To: Steve_Seattle
Do they then hire additional part-time workers to make up the labor gap?

You figured it out, Steve. Obamacare Full Frontal: Of 953,000 Jobs Created In 2013, 77%, Or 731,000 Are Part-Time, ZeroHedge, August 2, 2013.

27 posted on 08/03/2013 11:07:40 AM PDT by ProtectOurFreedom
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: Artcore
Yet you voted for cloture?!?! She’s trying to provide some cover for herself...nothing more.

Yes,Yes,Yes. The scum in the sewers is better than CONgress.

28 posted on 08/03/2013 11:32:10 AM PDT by Digger
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: daler
It would not surprise me at all to see the day arrive when employers are fined or otherwise sanctioned for laying people off.

It wouldn't surprise me, either. The Democratic [sic] party, aided and abetted by the Vichy Republican party, never passes up an opportunity to institute new taxes.

29 posted on 08/03/2013 12:06:39 PM PDT by Standing Wolf
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: Gay State Conservative

The real vote is the vote to end debate (cloture) how did Collins vote on cloture?


30 posted on 08/03/2013 12:27:53 PM PDT by jpsb (Believe nothing until it has been offically denied)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: Jim Robinson
"Obamacare has 'perverse incentives' that allow employers to cut their employees' work hours"

Not allow but force. Businesses were already free to cut hours if they wanted to. Now they have to cut hours to avoid a penalty.

31 posted on 08/03/2013 1:09:25 PM PDT by UnwashedPeasant
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Jim Robinson

Then the poor smucks will have to pay full price to the exchange then any subsidy will come as a tax credit NEXT YEAR!


32 posted on 08/03/2013 2:10:01 PM PDT by Mike Darancette (Fight the culture of nothing.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Jim Robinson

We have to pass the bill to see what’s in it.


33 posted on 08/03/2013 3:56:26 PM PDT by Veggie Todd (What difference does it make?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson