Empowered Republicans tackle Obamacare in new Congress

Republicans have launched their first attack on US president Barack Obama's signature healthcare legislation since taking control of the US Congress.

The widely anticipated attempt by the Mr Obama’s opponents is the latest effort by Republicans to roll back the provisions of the Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare as it is better known, which they have long opposed.

The latest challenge, flagged as an early priority for Republicans in the new 114th Congress, is a vote to lengthen the definition of the full-time working week under Obamacare from 30 hours to 40 hours. This would reduce the number of workers to whom employers are obliged under the law to offer health insurance.

Unwarranted intrusion The act was passed in 2010 to extend health insurance to people among the estimated 50 million who have no coverage against costly healthcare bills.

Republicans argue that the law imposes too many costs on businesses and is an unwarranted government intrusion into private companies and individuals.

The Republican Bill, introduced on Tuesday, has previously passed the House of Representatives, which the party has controlled since 2010, but has failed to reach the Senate, which until this week was controlled by the Democrats.

Republicans took control of the Senate on Tuesday in the new Congress with a 54-seat majority.

In a 252 to 172 vote late yesterday, the House of Representatives approved a Bill that would redefine the working-week at 40 hours under Obamacare, moving it to the Senate for consideration.

Republicans argue that the working-week rule has damaged businesses and caused employers to reduce worker hours to avoid paying health insurance.

Penalties on business

From January 1st, businesses with 100 or more workers have to offer health insurance to 70 per cent of their full-time workforce this year or face penalties.

The White House has said Mr Obama would veto the bill should it pass on the basis that it would "shift costs to taxpayers, put workers' hours at risk and disrupt health insurance coverage." The legislation is the first test of how the Republican-led Congress will attempt to weaken Obamacare, one of the president's biggest achievements and the most far-reaching piece of social legislation to pass since the 1960s.

Mr Obama is on a three-day, three-state trip aimed at overshadowing the ascendant Republicans in their first week in charge of Congress as he flags his achievements in a preview of his January 20th state of the union address.