Obamacare Facts: Support Slips to 39%; Defund Talk Gets Louder

Americans following the stream of Obamacare facts out of Washington aren't as happy with the new law as they were before, according to a new poll.

According to this just-released CNN/ORC International survey, support for the Affordable Care Act, better known as Obamacare, slipped from 51% in January to a current low of 39%.

Support dropped in all demographics, with the steepest slide in two core Democratic groups: women and Americans making less than $50,000.

"Those are also the two groups that are most likely to pay attention to health insurance issues, and possibly the ones most likely to be affected by any changes," CNN Polling Director Keating Holland said. "That may be particularly true for lower-income Americans who are most likely to have part-time jobs, be on Medicaid, or not currently have health insurance and thus be the first to have to navigate the new system."

Holland continued, "Change is often scary - even change that promises to bring long-term benefits - and it may not be surprising that Americans are getting a case of cold feet as these new polices start to kick in."

It also could be that the Obamacare facts affecting the U.S. job market are hitting home with some households...

If you're upset about Obamacare, don't get mad - get rich!

Obamacare Facts: The New Part-Time America

What's really concerning about Obamacare is the toll it has had, and continues to have, on jobs.

Data shows part-timers are the fastest growing labor group across the country. During the first half of the year, 97% of net job creation was in part-time work, says Keith Hall, a senior researcher at George Mason University's Mercatus Center.

That amounts to almost 35 new part-time jobs for every new full-time job. That's not the kind of job creation that translates into strong economic recovery. Fewer hours worked means less productivity and lower paychecks - no way to spur growth in a sluggish economy.

Hall, who also ran the Bureau of Labor Statistics from 2008 to 2012, told the Atlantic Journal Constitution, "That is a really high number for a six month period. I'm not sure that has ever happened over six months before."

Yet, the part-time trend continues...

Investor's Business Daily found at least 258 employers nationwide who have trimmed hours and headcount to remain under new government thresholds for having to provide health insurance under Obamacare.

One of the most unexpected findings in the latest research is that 207 of those 258 entities are public sector employers: cities, school districts, and country government. All have slashed hours for part-timers to below 30 hours (the government definition of full-time work) or reduced payrolls to get below the 50-worker threshold for requiring employers to provide health insurance.

And the list keeps growing. IBD says the reason private employers weren't predominately featured on the roster is because many worry about adverse publicity or litigation and also aren't willing to attribute their hiring practices (or lack thereof) to Obamacare mandates.

"Defund Obamacare" Picks Up Steam

The timely released poll and list comes amid a major push by conservative House Republicans to try to cut funding for Obamacare when the government's new fiscal year begins on Oct. 1. The new figures give the GOP fresh ammunition in their case for defunding the bill.

Oct. 1 is also the date enrollment in the healthcare exchanges, the core of Obamacare, kicks in.

Conservative Capitol Hill lawmakers proposed a plan last Tuesday to fund the government through mid-December in exchange for Senate voting to cut funds for President Obama's 2010 healthcare act.

If Congress fails to come to an agreement on a new spending plan by the beginning of next month, a government shutdown would begin. That's one road no one wants to travel down.

Even if we can't control what happens in Washington this fall, we can control how we handle Obamacare hitting our wallets. In addition to preparing for healthcare changes, we've found a way to make money from the shift in our nation's healthcare process. Profits could be as high as...... You can get the details here.

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