Sicillian,
Of course people have been cutting hours for years. But its when companies that typically paid for benefits (such as law firms) start cutting to avoid getting hit with the taxes and issues of the Healthcare act it is quite problematic. So just saying "theyve always done this" doesn't really address the issues that this act brings.
We all know who this act is meant to placate; lets not sugar coat it. What people don't realize is that this act is going to put more people at the welfare and food stamp lines.