While Democrats slam Republicans for their efforts to defund Obamacare, polls show that the majority of Americans are not in favor of it. A recent ABC/Washington Post poll found that 52% of Americans are opposed to Obamacare.
Americans across the nation are preparing for the effects of Obamacare, set to begin next week, as evidenced by testimony provided by Michael Montis, owner of a Tempe, AZ restaurant. Montis is not the first business owner to make tough business decisions, however. Business owners have been preparing for months for Obamacare, which will include steep cuts in profits, job cuts, and poor health coverage.
Michael Montis, owner of the historic Michael Montis Steakhouse (in business since 1956, with its earliest beginnings dating back to the late 1890s), says that Obamacare is forcing him to make a decision that him, his employees, and his customers do not like: cutting employee hours.
Montis explained "Every position in my company is now a choice." Every time Montis hires a new employee, he will have to figure out how to keep their hours low. Obamacare stipulates that employers must offer health insurance to employees working 30 or more hours per week (considered full-timers under the law), or pay a penaly of up to $3,000 per employee.
Trimming hours comes at a high cost, Montis warns: "It cuts into the income of good people on my staff who might’ve been able to work more hours. And secondly, it could ultimately hurt the service I offer to the customer."