Idaho Congressman Simpson today supported H.R. 2575, legislation to eliminate the language in Obamacare defining a full-time worker as someone who works more than 30-hours per week. The bill passed the House with a vote of 248 to 197. Congressman Simpson was a cosponsor of this legislation.

The 30-hour work week language in Obamacare was apparently intended to prevent employers from skirting the employer mandate which says any company with more than 50 full-time workers must offer health insurance. Instead, it will have the opposite effect, with more workers receiving less hours, and being at risk of losing their job.

“There are many parts of Obamacare that are damaging to the economy, this 30-hour work week is just one of many,” added Simpson. “Let’s face it; Americans understand that full-time means 40 hours, despite what the Administration is trying to tell them.”

A study by the Hoover Institution at Stanford University has shown that the 30-hour rule puts 2.6 million workers with median incomes of under $30,000 at risk of losing hours or their job. It also showed that most workers impacted are without college degrees, and a majority are women.

“Any time you try a fundamental shift in labor law like this, there are significant consequences,” said Simpson. “This new 30-hour work week would lead to workers’ hours being cut, less jobs for middle and lower income workers, reduced productivity, and more disadvantages for American businesses who already face the challenges of a competitive global marketplace.”

Last year the Obama Administration unilaterally delayed enforcement of the employer mandate, and with it the 30-hour work week, until 2015.  However, employers have already begun to prepare.  A recent U.S. Chamber of Commerce survey of small businesses found that 71% of small businesses say they will either cut hours or reduce employees and move more employees to part-time status to avoid the Obamacare mandate.