New York State legislature considering legislation requiring companies to pay employees' health care

Associated Press via syracuse.com ^ | March 7, 2006 7:07 PM | Candice Choi

[jmyrlefuller]

For the record, mandatory wages plus benefits for these larger companies' workers would jump up to $10.15 per hour if this law were to be passed. That's Ralph Nader-like levels we're talking about. And you tell me that's not going to hurt business in New York even more than it is now?

[golfisnr1]

They won't be full-time employees long.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

They won't work in New York for very long, either.

[HEY4QDEMS]

I'd love to be a lobbyist for the health insurance industry right now.

Getting paid to live large and cow tow with the mucky mucks.

Is this a great country or what?

[TChris]

New York has too many employers, huh? This should drive a bunch of 'em out of the state.

[Logical me]

I don't think this has gone to the Supreme Court yet, but if it does it will not pass the muster. Private companies are just that, and the government intrusion is at a all time high. The line might be drawn in the sand this time.

[Integrityrocks]

These are the same legislators who scream about outsourcing. What a no-brainer. Bankrupt the companies, kill U.S. jobs, reduce economic growth and then Blame Bush.

[proxy_user]

Hmmmm....this would give small companies and contractors tremendous advantages in the marketplace.

I wonder if that's who is pushing for this?

[tfecw]

"This should drive a bunch of 'em out of the state."

Do you really think so? I don't see walmart pulling out anytime soon. Assuming companies are still turning a profit even with the extra cost, why would they leave?

[Lokibob]

"State Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno showed some initial support for the bill, saying taxpayers shouldn't have to foot the bill for big companies."

 

So, Senator, who do you think will foot the bill?  The company or the companies customers?

 

First rule of business: "Raise prices to offset the cost of doing business, INCLUDING TAXES"

[JeeperFreeper]

Dear N.Y. legislature:
We here In Texas (add your state, except Cal.) would like to thank you for driving even more private businesses out of N.Y. and to our fine state.

[bill1952]

He added, however, that he would have to make sure the requirement wouldn't hurt businesses or drive them out of New York.

Dream on. You and Karl Marx.

[dfwgator]

They know exactly what they're doing. They know businesses are not going to put up with this, so the next step?

Businesses are going to start demanding HillaryCare. Then it's all she wrote.

[The Iceman Cometh]

Did I miss something in my education?

Businesses have to provide health care?

I'll have to take a close look at the state flag of New York to see if a hammer and sickle are hidden somewhere.

[Plexi]

They won't be full-time employees long.

No kidding. Imagine the employers with just over 100 employees. There's a good chance they'll lay off enough to get under 100 or convert the right number to part-time.

[bill1952]

They won't turn a profit unless the cost is passed along to the customer.
There is no way around that, period.

Oh, are the customers taxpayers?

[trebb]

shifting the cost of skyrocketing health care in many cases from taxpayers to big businesses

That is a deliberate lie - whatever big business has to pay out gets passed on to the taxpayers. This is just a step that makes the companies part of the welfare system.

[bill1952]

All of the GOP voters in the fine state of Florida, second that endorsement!

[tfecw]

"Oh, are the customers taxpayers?"

About 40% of them are ;)

[xcamel]

I live here and I can't keep myself from just saying "New F*'n York" anymore.