Terence Ford is a writer for the College Conservative. In a new post, he looks at the harsh reality of Obamacare on campus.

Obamacare at Penn State

Free college! Free health care! More opportunities for college students! More jobs for graduates, guaranteed!

Statements like these have been used in some context by President Obama and his liberal allies since before the passage of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. Barack Obama has won over support for his agenda through attractive promises and bold statements, but never through meaningful results or genuine leadership.

Specifically among young voters, he has made promises that his health care reforms would prevent young adults from being kicked off their parents’ health insurance policies until they reach the age of 26. Obamacare is also supposed to protect students’ economic interests, health, and safety by mandating insurance for student employees, yet another promise that lured young Americans to the polls but has left us worse off.

Here at Penn State, the true effects of President Obama’s promises are quickly coming to light. And, just like at many other college campuses across the nation, students are having their rights, their jobs, their wages, and their potential stripped away by government regulated health insurance.

According to Susan Basso, Penn State’s Vice President for Human Resources, the current law will have a “significant, negative impact on the university budget” which will surely be passed onto current and prospective students in the form of higher tuition costs, other fees, and reduced funding to other programs that benefit students, like club sports. By mandating that the university provide health benefits to on-campus employees working over 30 hours a week, the ACA adds on another $23 million each year to Penn State’s expense account. Find a government subsidy to fix that.

To mitigate these costs, the University is preparing to do what countless other businesses have already done: cut back employee hours. Starting on January 1st, no student will be allowed to work more than 20 hours a week at any on-campus, university operated location. This includes, but is not limited to, the dining commons, the bookstores, and the residence halls.