WP: 'Wal-Mart' Bill Advances in Maryland

'Wal-Mart' Bill Advances in Maryland
Republicans Decry Proposed Healthcare Spending Requirement

By Gretchen Parker
Associated Press
Tuesday, April 5, 2005; 6:53 PM


Legislation dubbed the "Wal-Mart bill" is advancing in the General Assembly with strong majorities that supporters say will be veto-proof -- despite being blasted by Republicans as the most anti-business bill to be debated by lawmakers in 10 years.

The bill, officially titled the Fair Share Health Care Act, would require Wal-Mart to spend at least 8 percent of its payroll on health care benefits for its employees or put the difference into the state Medicaid fund. The act applies to any company with more than 10,000 workers, but so far in Maryland only Wal-Mart meets that criteria.

Gov. Robert Ehrlich has promised to veto the bill. Senators on Tuesday approved the bill 30-16, giving it one more vote than is needed for an override. In the House, lawmakers approved the bill with an 84-50 vote on Good Friday.

That's one vote short of a veto-proof majority, but supporters say they have garnered six "yes" votes from lawmakers who were absent for the long Easter weekend.

"This bill will become law, either right away or after an override," said Vincent DeMarco of Health Care for All, a coalition of organizations that lobbied for the bill....


http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A28219-2005Apr5.html

I might just congratulate my representatives...

The evil duck demon erlich doesen't get his bad hair way..Oh well!!!..Maryland may be technically a southern state..but our dems are true blu!

.

I didn't remember how that felt...

:toast:

We ought to be damn tired of how WalMart shafts its employees and encourages them to apply to public assistance. That is one bizarre form of corporate welfare.

but you know Wal-Mart's SOP....close any stores that unionize or aren't profitable.

. . . Maryland will be better for it.

WalMart is a blight on our fair state.

Maryland ... the Land of Pleasant Living

we need more of this.

It's appreciated

At least there's a few states left willing to stand up to the corporate cartels.

poorer it is

- Business as usual?

- What do the opponents think sociaty should do? Nothing?

I am stunned by the blind siddedness of the supporters of corporate control for all Americans.

I am doing the happy dance here. Fuck you, Bobby Ehrlich, ya goddam nazi motherfucker.

Take ****that*****

Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha

"Fair Share Health Care Act"

Bill requires large companies to spend at least 8% of payroll on health care:

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/politics/bal-walmartbill0405,1,2818385.story?coll=bal-home-headlines&ctrack=1&cset=true

Republican Govenor Erhlic promised to veto the bill, but the support in the Senate might make the bill veto proof.

:woohoo:

I wouldn't put it past them to cut their work force down to 9,999 to avoid paying this.

It wouldn't be hard to move stores close to the border across either since MD is such a small state.

which runs about $800 per month for a family.

Well, better than the NOTHING great-wal-mount wants to give.

I repeat--THE TEA IS IN THE HARBOR!