Posted on 04/06/2005 9:56:44 AM PDT by RebelBanker
Senate joins House, OKs bill that in effect applies only to Wal-Mart; Ehrlich might veto measure; Low spending on benefits would trigger penalties
Maryland would become the first state to tax large companies that failed to meet a mandatory level of employee health-care benefits under a bill approved yesterday by the state Senate.
The measure would affect one corporation, retailing behemoth Wal-Mart Stores Inc., which sent representatives from its Bentonville, Ark., headquarters to argue against it at committee hearings this year. But other, smaller businesses worried that the measure could be altered to include them in the future.
-snip-
As a practical matter, four large Maryland employers would be covered by the bill: Wal-Mart; Giant Food Inc.; Hopkins; and defense contractor Northrop Grumman. But only Wal-Mart would be required to pay the tax because it does not reach the 8 percent threshold.
(Excerpt) Read more at baltimoresun.com ...
One Supercenter just opened in Harford Co., one is scheduled to open in Cecil in July along with a regular Wal-Mart store in Cecil. The supercenter is virtually on the MD/DE line (but in MD). The closest supercenters prior to these openings are in PA and DE - about 45 miles distant.
I have no idea what the lawmakers are trying to do here - these stores are bringing additional jobs and additional sales tax and income tax revenue into the state. I know the group from around DC cringe at the thought of Walmart entering their territory, but to impose a "tax" that is targeted at one retailer is rather short-sighted, IMHO.
Time to get on the phone ...
Kill the Medicaid program, which amounts to corporate welfare for any employer who has Medicaid recipients on their payroll, and I'm right there with you.
Why should competing retailers be forced to help keep Wal-Mart's prices down by paying taxes to support the medicaid program?
I stand corrected!
Maybe I should have stated it this way?
"Socialism, whether by government decree, or government sponsorship, is fascism."
I agree with you.. Kill medicaid..
I had a government job where my boss arranged for his staff to be very well paid per hour of work. I can be pretty sure that he would not have been quite as generous if it had been a private partnership and our pay had come out his partnership share of earnings. He might have paid us as much, but he would have granted us less vacation time than the government organization granted us and we would have had to work with greater intensity.
This observation does not mean anything negative about anyone, it is just an observation on human nature and incentives. It is so much easier to be generous with someone else's money, particularly when they are taxpayers or rich people.
Why should competing retailers be forced to help keep Wal-Mart's prices down by paying taxes to support the medicaid program?
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The fault lies with the medicaid program, not Wallmart. Any company has a right to take full advantage of all aspects of the law to get an advantage on its competitor. Taxpayers should be outraged that people on medicaid are working at wallmart and demand it be abolished. This is another example of a failed welfare policy.
Wallmart will then have to either offer health care, or the workers will go to a job that does offer it, or will choose not to have health care or rely on some other charitable org.
It'll never happen. Wal-Mart will push them all into part-timers if they have too.
If you don't like the government paying for some freeloader's health care - then get Congress to stop paying for it!
our party needs to wake up regarding what is happening with health care in the US - private employers are dumping their plans everywhere you turn.
Because of increased costs due to government regulation. The solution is to remove government regulation and interference from the health-care *BUSINESS*!
Why is that you liberals always attack the symptoms rather than the causes?
you're right, it will never happen.
what's more likely to happen is that these workers who don't get health benefits will either go onto medicaid (as they do today), and we will pay as taxpayers. or once there is enough of them to elect Hillary, she will put national health care on all of us.
this is the price you are going to pay to save walmart a few dollars. a real good deal you are asking us to buy into.
Giving up already? Then go joint the DUmmies.
this is the price you are going to pay to save walmart a few dollars. a real good deal you are asking us to buy into.
Hey, dumbass, WAKE UP! Wal-Mart won't pay for this, you will.
This BS, unconstitutional, liberal-feelgood, anti-business legislation will not stop at Wal-Mart and I fully support Wal-Mart's tactics in fighting it. Not only will they protecting their own business interests, they will be protecting mine as well - VIVA, Wal-Mart!
p.s. If you don't like capitalism, just try doing without it.
Eventually it will be the corporations begging the government to institute HillaryCare, to take it out of their hands.
watch your language. anyone can curse on here, its real easy to type.
We are already paying for it - through medicaid, and through national health care if it comes to pass. Its alot cheaper to have walmart pay for it and raise the prices on a few of their items to cover it, along with other businesses.
that's where it heading, because people on our side just like to scream "capitalism" and not try to actually address the problem.
Looks like a bill of attainder.
Well, it *should* be out of the corporations' hands. I don't expect my employer to pay for my car, there's no reason they should pay for my health insurance either. It's just that government intrusions have made it impractical for individuals to easily get coverage.
THEY earned their money in a family-run business.
It's theirs to do with as THEY wish, and not as the duly elected shills of the People's Republic of Maryland see fit. .
I was trying to get your attention and make you think rather than type another kneejerk response.
We are already paying for it - through medicaid, and through national health care if it comes to pass.
Then change the law and quit paying for it.
Its alot cheaper to have walmart pay for it and raise the prices on a few of their items to cover it, along with other businesses.
Get government out of the health-care business and they will have to pay for it.
Is that really too difficult for you to understand?
You are addressing the symptom, not the disease, and that is destined for failure.
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