U.S. Sen. Joe Donnelly says changing the Affordable Care Act to redefine full-time workers is a common sense change that will put more money back in Hoosiers’ paychecks.
The federal healthcare law defines full-time as working 30 hours a week. Donnelly says that has created an unintended consequence where some employers have reduced workers’ hours to avoid the requirement to provide health insurance.
“So at a time when we’re trying to encourage the creation of more, good-paying jobs, this definition is reducing the take-home pay for many Americans,” Donnelly said.
The bill, which Donnelly is co-sponsoring with Maine Republican Susan Collins, defines full-time as 40 hours a week, a change expected to add $53 billion to the deficit over the next 10 years.
President Obama has already threatened to veto a similar bill in the House. Donnelly says if his bill passes, he hopes the White House reconsiders its position.
