Wal-Mart Denounces Health Bill

washington post ^ | 4-7-05 | Michael Barbaro

[TXBSAFH]

Wal-Mart Denounces Health Bill Retailer Says Maryland Could Lose Future Jobs

By Michael Barbaro Washington Post Staff Writer Thursday, April 7, 2005; Page E01

ROGERS, Ark., April 6 -- Wal-Mart Stores Inc. yesterday said approval of a bill that would require it to boost health care spending in Maryland could endanger its plans for growth in the state, including a new distribution center that would employ as many as 1,000.

The company questioned the motivation behind the bill, which is backed by a top competitor and its labor union.

Wal-Mart "will have to rethink its future growth in a state that is willing to pass such a bad business bill," said Nate Hurst, a government relations manager for the company. "This type of legislation, where lawmakers single out one employer, does not create a favorable environment."

[Steve_Seattle]

"If Walmart pays so badly, why do the people choose to work there?"
Because it's the best they can do, it's the last stop before living on the street.

[Right_in_Virginia]

Wal-marts are all over our state of Indiana. They have became too big for their britches.

I wonder if the people working in the stores agree with you.

[ran15]

Thanks to the American Medical Association.. and the states brilliant ideas of putting doctors in charge of deciding how many doctors can be trained..

America now has only half the doctors per capita that France does. Not surprisingly our doctors make unbelievable amounts of money, and some people are forced to go without.

As it would be in a public system when you have so few doctors. If there isn't enough to go around, someone will have to go without no matter how its added up.

[kempo]

How much is Maryland's sales tax? How much does WalMart contribute to Maryland's sales tax. Maryland is a small state. All WalMart has to do is pull all of it's stores out of the state and place them strategically in surrounding state close the the border of Maryland and WalMart still gets Maryland business but pays sales tax to other states. This is not rock science.

[massgopguy]

The People's Republic of Brattleboro Vermont tried to stop the expansion of Wal-Mart, so Wal-Mart got it on the ballot as a refurendum question. It passed 60-40. A selectman lamented that this is why such decisions should not be left to the people.

[ran15]

"Because it's the best they can do, it's the last stop before living on the street."

42% of Walmart's employees turn over every single year. Most of them are getting back on their feet, or working their part time, whiel they attain a skill.

[bert]

...The electorate just keeps on voting them in.....

Actually some of the electorate is moving out of the state. I know of those who deserted stiffling Maryland for the freedom and jobs of Raleigh Durahm.

[ninenot]

Actually, same-store-sales figures (out today) indicate that WallyWorld is doing OK--IIRC growth was about 4.5%.

HOWEVER, they were in deep doodoo 3&4Qs of 2004 on same-store. Their employees couldn't afford to buy stuff at their stores.

[A. Pole]

And this is just for a single person. It doesn't add up. If you had a couple of kids, you'd need a two bedroom apartment, which would be at least $950, leaving you $170 for everything else.

Well, if the mother works too, the budget will be a little larger (kids could be left at "undocumented" cheap day care). Still what about medical bills or dentist?

I see other solution based on the free market principles. Not afluent Americans should resigned from having children. Then the replenishment of labor force can be done by the import of the new workers from Mexico and similar countries. As it is in my tagline.

That way the afluent Americans would be free from the burden of subsidizing their poorer compatriots and be able to enjoy life more.

[balrog666]

The bill would require organizations with more than 10,000 employees to spend at least 8 percent of their payroll on health benefits --

Wal-Mart spends between 7 and 8 percent [now]

Big whoop.

But what happens when they change the rate to 20%?

[Steve_Seattle]

"If someone tries to make a career out of being a cashier at Walmart . . . single mothers"

Ok, then you are defining Walmart as a crappy place to work, which seems to undermine your defense of Walmart. You are basically saying that only an idiot would work there. And who said anything about single mothers?

[Right_in_Virginia]

So, are you suggesting an increase in the minimum wage? Would $20 an hour do it for you? How about $50?

[NetValue]

If I ran Wal-Mart, and the democratic People's Republic of Maryland enacted such a tyrannical bill, I would close the stores within 24 hours and re-open just over the borders in Virginia, Delaware, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia.

The lost employment, and lost tax revenue should give the legislators pause.

[balrog666]

Wal Mart has the chance to go in a new direction in health care. By hiring a private doctor and several mid-level practitioners they can bypass many insurance hassles and become their own basic provider. Having the midlevels at the local level and the Doc as the regional supervisor will be cost effective.

Probability: zero.

Too much malpractice/liablity exposure.

[Doohickey]

That's a very conservative point of view to take.

[balrog666]

Why should the state's taxpayers finance the health care of a private business or a for-profit corporation like Walmart?

So change the stupid state law.

[A. Pole]

Gotta have no car, no cable, no computer.. Which should allow them to better focus on higher training anyway.

What "higher training" can you do without the computer? And if you do not have car you need good public transportation, am I right? Not everywhere you can go on bicycle or on foot.

And I see that you also think that making children is better left to Mexico.

[Steve_Seattle]

"But what happens when they change the rate to 20%?"

Not much, they continue to thrive and your weekly grocery bill goes up $3-4, but their employees are better off.

[ran15]

Your buddies Hillary Clinton, Teddy Kennedy, Jaques Chirac and Kofi Annan, agree with you.

[jy8z]

I work at Wal-Mart. It's true, Wal-Mart starts associates at the lower end of the pay scale. After that it's up to the individual to make the most of what is available to them. I chose to become "promotable". And guess what? After 15 months I was rewarded by becoming the manager in a brand new meat market at much higher wage. Too many associates for many reasons get stuck in the "entry level" positions and suffer the limits of their paycheck. You can't fault Wal-Mart for that.

This is the best way that I can sum it up. Wal-Mart is not the best place to work...but it is far from being the worst place to work.