Posted on 01/25/2006 7:51:55 AM PST by SmithL
San Francisco officials often decry the city's shrinking business community. Yet there's little acknowledgment that the very policies local government tends to push have the effect of undermining business.
The latest anti-business proposal to hit the table was put forward by Supervisor Tom Ammiano last November. The proposed ordinance would affect non-union businesses and nonprofit organizations that have at least 20 employees and don't provide medical insurance.
Businesses would have to put approximately $345 a month per employee into a fund to be used for health care costs. Employees need work only 80 hours a month. The $345 is based on the average monthly total paid by 10 Bay Area county governments to cover each of their workers. The ordinance also includes the formation of a seven-member health security task force, which would report back to the Board of Supervisors.
Ammiano's proposal is endorsed by fellow supervisors Sophie Maxwell, Chris Daly and Ross Mirkarimi. Other supporters include the San Francisco Peoples' Organization, Senior Action Network, the San Francisco Labor Council, Young Workers United, ACORN, Gray Panthers, Health Care for All, the Tenderloin Housing Clinic, SEIU Local 790, UFCW Local 21 and Health Access California.
On the other hand, San Francisco's business community is none too thrilled about Ammiano's proposal. The Chamber of Commerce has pulled together a diverse coalition, including large and small business leaders, members of theater and dance nonprofit organizations, restaurateurs and health insurance experts, to oppose the legislation. Such critics fear that Ammiano's plan would be a disaster for the city's economy, should it become law.
Giving Away the Store
One of Ammiano's reasons for putting forth his proposal is to try to save the city...
(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...
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