House passes third ObamaCare bill of new Congress

The House passed legislation on Monday that would exempt volunteer firefighters from the healthcare law’s employer mandate.

Passed 401-0, the measure would prevent volunteer firefighters from being counted toward the mandate requiring employers with 50 or more full-time workers to provide health insurance or else pay hefty fines.

{mosads}The vote marked the third on an ObamaCare-related measure less than a week into the new Congress. The House passed bills last week to exempt veterans from the employer mandate and to redefine a full-time workweek as 40 hours instead of 30.

Lawmakers said volunteer firefighters should be exempt from the employer mandate since they often have workweeks of more than 30 hours, which constitutes a full-time workweek under the healthcare law. Consequently, volunteer firefighters may be counted as full-time employees and force fire departments to provide health insurance.

Rep. Lou Barletta (R-Pa.), the bill’s sponsor, warned the unintended effects of the healthcare law could result in fire departments closing altogether due to fines imposed by the healthcare law.

“Some fire companies would be forced to pay for the volunteers’ health insurance or pay a fine, driving many fire departments out of business,” Barletta said. “Simply put, this is a public safety issue.”

The Treasury Department released finalized regulations in February 2014 to exempt firefighters from the employer mandate. But lawmakers said the legislation would provide more certainty.

“I think it’s always better to have it in statute rather than rely on the whims of administrative agencies that can change with the change of administrations,” said Rep. Joe Courtney (D-Conn.).

The House passed an identical bill in March 2014 by a vote of 410-0.