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With the support of Congressman Bill Posey (R-Rockledge), the House passed legislation (H.R. 2575) to change the definition of full-time work back to 40 hours per week, undoing a harmful regulation put in place by the President’s health care law. Under the law, health care mandates that apply to full time employment cover employees working 30 hours or more. Some workers have had their hours drastically cut and lost their insurance because of this new rule.

“I have heard from many constituents who have shared with me how the new health care law has affected not only their ability to find affordable coverage but also their work,” said Congressman Posey.

“Joe in Rockledge wrote: ‘I am a 45 year old married father of 3. As of February 2013 the Affordable Care Act made it necessary for my employer to cut my hours to under 30 hours a week….and my wife's health insurance increased to an unaffordable rate of $870 a month.’

“Tiffany in Palm Bay wrote me several weeks ago saying: ‘my workplace has dropped my hours just so I won't qualify for their medical plan.’

“I also heard from Cathy in Brevard who shared: ‘My son, with his college degree….finally found a job in his field, at 32 hours a week. NOW, he is being cut back to 24…’

“I’ve heard from many other constituents who do not like the health care law and resent the changes that have been forced upon them by Washington. Some have been told they can no longer see their doctors, others have seen sharp increases in their premiums, lost their plans and like Joe, Cathy and Tiffany have had their work hours cut because of the 30 hour rule. It’s not right, it’s not fair.”

Last month Posey supported House-passed legislation to provide relief to individuals and their families by delaying the health care law’s individual mandate tax penalty for one year. Posey has also introduced legislation to require that federal officials involved in writing new health care regulations and enforcing the law be required to sign up for it themselves. “Too often in Washington bureaucrats make rules for others to follow while exempting themselves. If federal regulators had to live under the rules they’ve created for this health care law, it would look much different.”