The Washington Post told readers that: "other Democrats worry about the unintended consequences of requiring employers to offer health coverage, such as an inclination to hire fewer low-income workers." It seems unlikely that these critics of health care reform actually have this concern, since large scale layoffs due to a mandate is implausible. The cost of health care comes out wages. While it may take a period of time, employers will adjust wages downward (most likely by raising them in step with inflation) to offset the cost of a health care mandate. It is also would have been worth noting that the mandate will almost certainly not apply to firms that employ fewer than 25 workers.
--Dean Baker
