Posted on 06/03/2005 12:02:00 PM PDT by marylandrepub1
The world's largest retailer has denounced as a public-relations ploy legislation -- which some state legislators have dubbed the "anti-Wal-Mart bill" -- that would create a public list of companies whose workers are enrolled in MinnesotaCare and other government-funded health care programs. "This is not health care reform," said Nate Hurst, public and government relations manager for Wal-Mart. "This is a campaign against Wal-Mart."
But proponents of the bill, whose chief author is Sen. Becky Lourey, DFL-Kerrick, say the public has a right to know which employers have become a drain on the state's public health care system. They say the bill does not target Wal-Mart in particular but is meant to see how the state can work with companies to provide better health care programs.
"If it's true what people say, that big multinational companies are outsourcing health care to taxpayers, then it would be good to have a handle on which ones," said Rep. Sheldon Johnson, DFL-St. Paul. "It's just information.
"Once such findings are made public, they can be used by opponents of Wal-Mart to stir up support for punitive measures against big-box retailers. A Wisconsin state representative has introduced a bill that would force big-box retailers to reimburse the state for providing the health care needs of their under-paid and under-insured employees. The revenue would go to the state's Medical Assistance trust fund.
As of October, Wal-Mart employed 17,329 people in Minnesota.
(Excerpt) Read more at startribune.com ...
Walmart should call their bluff and move to South Dakota.
It's not a crime for employers to pay employees what they'll take in fair market negotiation of pay & benefits. It's also not a crime for those who take a low-paying job to take advantage of government programs specifically set up to help people in their position. BTW, good for Ehrlich for the veto. Better yet (if the veto is overridden) if Wal-Mart cancels their planned distribution center in one of Maryland's highest-unemployment counties as a result.
What's one good reason for raising the minimum wage other than it will make you feel good?
"This woman believes the state should guarantee everyone's job, healthcare, kid care, etc"
The New York Times announced layoffs after asking in an editorial why WM doesn't just raise their salaries. We could try to figure out their liberal logic: Because the NYTs is : a poorly run business or an unpopular newspaper, they can pay their employees $0 and no health care costs, but Wal-mart is required to pay more . Oh, but the NYTs performs a public service (complaining about WM) so the same rules should not apply.
Well that's what they're trying to do clandestinely. This is another attempt at universal health care. They're trying to back-door a defacto requirement for employers to pay for health care, just as they tried in Maryland.
Outstanding point. This is the nanny-staters projecting their world view of government's role in people's lives onto the role of corporations in their employees lives. In their world view, people must be dependent on some larger organization in order to control them. The unemployed must depend on and be controlled by the state. The employed must depend on and be controlled by their company, which is in turn controlled by the state.
There's probably a psychology or sociology doctoral thesis in there, somewhere.
higher worker happiness leads to greater productivity etc.
Having them live better also helps the overall economy.
I don't think it should be raised too much, but cost of living increases would dictate it has to go up some.
ELIMINATED CRIME AND POVERTY -- haven't you heard?
Geez, that's GREAT! I'm gonna go for a jog around Camden Yards at midnight tonight to celebrate...
ping
Better be packin...
I've always thought the minimum wage should be $0. Of course, some may argue that would limit someone's ability to pay to work for someone else in order to gain experience. So, I could be convinced to just get rid of the minimum wage requirement altogether.
The earned income tax credit is a way to help the ones at the bottom make it without killing their jobs.
you think people should pay to gain experience? wow.
What do you think a university education is?
Maybe so, but that is a separate issue than fighting the publication of this list.
Knowing what companies employees take disproportionately high advantage of welfare seems prudent enough to me.
Well, that's true.
Minimum-wage is pure socialism.
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