House Democratic Caucus Chairman John Larson told The Daily Caller that lawmakers could not “take into account” the health care decisions of businesses when drafting the Obamacare law.
Companies like Darden Restaurants and schools like the Community College of Allegheny County in Pennsylvania have announced plans to cut workers’ hours because they cannot afford to pay for their health insurance. Under the law, businesses with more than 50 full-time employees must provide health insurance for their workers or pay a fine to the IRS.
TheDC asked Larson if this was the type of result he expected.
“No, of course not. And you know — listen, we can’t take into account what a business will make as a decision as it relates to health care,” Larson, a Connecticut Democrat, told TheDC.
“I think it’s unfortunate and you would hope that there was a better way around it but that certainly was never the intent of the Affordable Health Care Act.” (RELATED VIDEO: Durbin: Cuts to workers’ hours a ‘bad result’ of Obamacare)
Larson rejected critics who say Obamacare is bad for the economy.
“So it was better for the economy to then just run it up and have them go to the emergency room, and have all the hidden costs that were paid for, and all the things that are not associated with it?” Larson asked. “To keep all the inefficiencies and continue to have it spiral out of control?”