Monday, November 26, 2012

Obamacare: Killing Jobs, Cutting Wages


By Gary Bauer

As the nation continues to digest the results of the 2012 elections, the stark reality of Obamacare is coming into sharp contrast with all the hype. The fears of critics about job losses, bigger government and a weakened economy are being borne out, with many struggling families and hourly workers bearing the brunt.

Here's one example: The Orlando Regional Medical Center has begun its "largest staff reduction in its nearly 100-year history," according to the Orlando Sentinel. It is cutting hundreds of positions across "all departments and all eight of the system's hospitals."

The reason for the layoffs: Obamacare. According to ORMC's CEO, Sherrie Sitarik, "Health-care reform mandates and changes in reimbursement structures for Medicare and Medicaid are forcing health-care organizations … to confront new challenges."

ORMC is not alone. The Sentinel wrote that "Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center in North Carolina announced that it would cut 950 jobs by June. … Louisiana State University announced it would cut 1,495 positions as well as programs across its seven hospitals."

Academia is now feeling the effects of Obamacare. Following the example of many large and small businesses, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported that the Community College of Allegheny County is cutting hours for 400 adjunct professors and support staff "to circumvent the national health care legislation that goes into effect in January 2014."

One adjunct biology professor said, "It's kind of a double whammy for us because we are facing a legal requirement [under the new law] to get health care and if the college is reducing our hours, we don't have the money to pay for it."

Implementing Obamacare is proving to be a nightmare. So far at least 16 states are refusing to set up insurance exchanges, instead leaving the task to Washington bureaucrats. According to The Hill this is creating "major logistical and financial challenges" for the Obama Administration.

And here's another headache for the administration: Today the Supreme Court reopened a case by Liberty University against Obamacare's contraception mandate. Read more here.