Posted on 05/20/2005 2:13:47 PM PDT by Extremely Extreme Extremist
PRINCESS ANNE, Md. - Gov. Robert Ehrlich vetoed a bill aimed at making Wal-Mart pay higher health care benefits or contribute more to Medicaid and said the measure threatened the economic health of the community.
The retail giant plans a distribution center in this lower Eastern Shore town. Ehrlich was joined at the veto ceremony by a Wal-Mart executive and 200 people, including a handful of protesters. A high school band played "God Bless America."
The Fair Share Health Care Act, passed by lawmakers in April, would require a company with more than 10,000 employees to spend at least 8 percent of its payroll on health care benefits or pay more into the state Medicaid fund. Currently, only Wal-Mart fits that criterion.
Eduardo Castro-Wright, chief operating officer of Wal-Mart stores USA division, said the company already spends 7 percent to 8 percent of its payroll on health benefits.
He said the Bentonville, Ark.-based retailer still opposed such a bill, saying it could be dangerous if broadly applied.
"Next time around ... it might not be 10,000 employees, it might be 200. Then you are talking about a very different scenario that involves everyone in the business community, not just Wal-Mart," Castro-Wright said.
The planned distribution center, which could start construction in 2007, would employ 350 workers initially and up to a thousand eventually.
Wal-Mart could reconsider the plan if the General Assembly overrides the veto when it reconvenes in January, said Castro-Wright. The Senate passed the bill with enough votes to override a veto, while the House margin was just short of the number needed for an override.
Unions criticized the veto.
"Gov. Ehrlich should be ashamed for literally standing with big corporate interests rather than Maryland's working families," John Sweeney, president of the AFL-CIO, said in a statement.
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When are people going to realize that for good or bad, big business fuels our economy? These idiots don't realize that if Wal-Mart pulls out of Maryland, 10,000+ people are on the street unemployed.
The libs also need to realize that it is because of their frivilous lawsuits that healthcare has become so expensive. Ugggggh! I can't take anymore of their idiocy!
Them Dems sure care about the working people.
They also must not be aware of the geography of maryland. Several stores are within a short distance of the state line - so all walmart would have to do is uproot a few of those stores and move them across the state lines. Bingo - right below 10,000 employees.
You could kill several birds with one stone, by eliminating lawsuits against doctors altogether. That would have to help GM and it would all but kill the demokkkrat party.
If they want to tax any industry, let them tax the entertainment industry, which is full of leftists who need to pay their fair share.
Most definately an AP story. Tips for recognizing AP stories.
(1)If story pertains to a democrat and is bad for the common man then you will find no letter D after their title.
(2)If story has any good side D will appear every time.
(3)If a Republican erases world hunger, cures aids, and makes world peace no R shall ever follow their title.
(4)If a Republican gets a parking ticket or any other haneous crime then R shall always be included after their title.
(5) And I almost forgot this one. If Al Gore gets a speeding ticket going 50 miles per hour over the posted limit. You guessed it. No D shall appear after his title. Also the word former will be stricken fron his title.
Mr. Sweeney, please tell us who offers more jobs to working families, "big corporate interests" or the AFL-CIO.
"Gov. Ehrlich should be ashamed for literally standing with big corporate interests rather than Maryland's working families," John Sweeney, president of the AFL-CIO, said in a statement.
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No, YOU should be ashamed for trying to drive out upwards of 1,000 jobs.
What a maroon!
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