Some state lawmakers met today to learn more about how the Affordable Care Act may affect North Carolina.
Speaker of the House Thom Tillis and Senate President Pro Tem Phil Berger- both Republicans- created the Joint Study Committee on the Affordable Care Act and Implementation Issues back in January. Its purpose is to discuss the impact of the 2010 Affordable Care Act.
Today marked the first meeting of the committee.
One of the guest speakers was Duke University professor Chris Conover, a conservative economist who's known for his criticism of the ACA. Conover told committee members that the law will discourage businesses from hiring full-time workers who require health coverage under the law. He said it's not clear that Obamacare has reduced the number of the uninsured across the country.
Supporters of the law dispute that assertion. Democratic Senator Floyd McKissick asked the committee head whether they would only hear from speakers opposed to the ACA. The chair said he would welcome recommendations for future guest speakers.
