The lobbyists at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce spent millions trying to defeat passage of Obamacare and supported it's repeal in subsequent years. However, now that the law's employer mandate is about to be put into effect, the Chamber is shifting tactics with a new ad that urges Congress to "fix" the law, not repeal it.
With the New Year, the ACA mandates businesses with at least 50 full-time employees now provide health insurance, while previously it only applied to businesses with at least 100 full-time employees. In an attempt to prevent businesses from cutting hours of employees who work 40 hours a week to avoid the mandate, the law defines full-time to be 30 hours a week.
The narrator starts by saying, "Time. We never really seem to have enough." As footage of a family enjoying leisure time is shown, she says, "What's 10 hours? To some it means everything." This doesn't sound like a plea for more work hours, but less.
The ad may not be able to force President Obama to sign legislation weakening his signature health law. But we hope if the Chamber means what it says, more businesses will be offering 40-hour work weeks with lots of vacation days!
With the New Year, the ACA mandates businesses with at least 50 full-time employees now provide health insurance, while previously it only applied to businesses with at least 100 full-time employees. In an attempt to prevent businesses from cutting hours of employees who work 40 hours a week to avoid the mandate, the law defines full-time to be 30 hours a week.
The Chamber Tries To Go Populist on Obamacare
This has led opponents of the law to claim it will prompt a mass cutting of work hours. The Chamber's ad, "More Time For Full Time," seeks to make that case. But in its attempt to give its position a populist sheen, the argument gets jumbled.The narrator starts by saying, "Time. We never really seem to have enough." As footage of a family enjoying leisure time is shown, she says, "What's 10 hours? To some it means everything." This doesn't sound like a plea for more work hours, but less.
Obama and Chamber Agree: Don't Cut Hours
Then she abruptly shifts to complain that a "mandated 30-hour work week will hurt workers and business ... 30 hours isn't a reality for small businesses, or employees who can't afford to work less." Putting aside the fact that "small businesses" are exempt, she seems to be solving her own problem. If 30 hours isn't a reality for either employers or employees, then few businesses will move to 30-hour work weeks. The Chamber and the law, ostensibly, actually have the same objective: don't cut hours.The ad may not be able to force President Obama to sign legislation weakening his signature health law. But we hope if the Chamber means what it says, more businesses will be offering 40-hour work weeks with lots of vacation days!