WP: Wal-Mart Is Focal Point Of Democrats' Health Bill

Wal-Mart Is Focal Point Of Democrats' Health Bill

By Amy Joyce
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, June 23, 2005; Page D02


Several congressional Democrats introduced a bill yesterday that would force states to report the names of companies that have 50 or more employees who receive government-funded health care, an effort to pressure Wal-Mart Stores Inc. in particular to improve employee health coverage.

In introducing the Health Care Accountability Act, Sen. Edward M. Kennedy (D-Mass.), Rep. Anthony D. Weiner (D-N.Y.), and Sen. Jon S. Corzine (D-N.J.) said they are concerned that large employers such as Wal-Mart are transferring responsibility for health care to government-funded programs such as Medicaid.

Of Wal-Mart's 1.3 million full- and part-time employers, the lawmakers estimate that more than 600,000 do not have company insurance. Company critics say Wal-Mart wages are so low and the health premiums charged to employees so high, even some full-time employees qualify for government-funded health care.

"Every member of Congress has health insurance because they understand the importance of providing for themselves and family. If it's good enough for Congress . . . it's good enough for everyone. Except for Wal-Mart," Kennedy said at a news conference. "Every worker in America is paying a part of their taxes to pay for Wal-Mart."

Wal-Mart has been the focus of legislation nationwide that would force it to do more to insure its workers. In April, the Maryland General Assembly passed a bill that would have required Wal-Mart to spend more on employee health benefits. Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. vetoed the bill, but Democratic legislative leaders have vowed to override the veto. Legislators in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware are moving in a similar direction, and Wal-Mart's opponents have rallied around the health care issue....


http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/06/22/AR2005062202136.html

and WalMart's profits keep climbing!!!

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Go get 'em, Ted! Stick it to 'em, Ted! Kennedy has been one of the most pro-active -- if not the most pro-active -- healthcare consumer advocate in Congress.

I've voted for Edward M. Kennedy every time he's run for the U.S. Senate. Kennedy rocks!


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WallyWorld is elbowing all other other pigs away from the public trough.

:kick:

I have my doubts about it making it through this congress, but this is the kind of pressure that the Dems have to create against Walmart and other parasites like them.

Strip mining the taxpayers pockets to take care of sick children.

They are criminals.

forms along with job applications.

How do we like that?

Pretty blatant abuse of the system if you ask me.

I'm glad Ted is doing this. Let's see how many Repubs vote for transparency for a change.

That's a big story.

that Wal-Mart encourages people to sign up for public assistance at the same time they are completing their job apps. She says as an Af-Am, she is personally affronted that people of color are always handed public assistance forms when looking into a job at Wal-Mart.

Pretty sick, isn't it?

Milking the taxpayers, paying minimum wage, maintaining the cycle of poverty.

I hate Wal-Mart.

Yup. Right on !! Wal-Mart sucks . . . Can you imagine Wal-Mart as the largest employer in the entire U.S. of A. and yet the states and federal government - us - subsidize its workforce healthcare benefits? These are the same folks who are driving out Mom & Pop stores and other small, medium and large business all across America. These guys bankroll China!

Wwwwhoooooaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa. Get really pissed.




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