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Sens. Kennedy, Corzine & Rep. Weiner Introduce Legislation to Expose Wal-Mart...
US Newswire ^ | 6/21/05

Posted on 06/21/2005 5:56:49 PM PDT by Tumbleweed_Connection

-- Wake-Up Wal-Mart's "Make Wal-Mart Care About Health Care" Campaign Helps Sponsor the "Health Care Accountability Act" to Hold Wal-Mart Accountable

On Wednesday, June 22, at 1:45 p.m., Sen. Ted Kennedy, Sen. Jon Corzine and Rep. Anthony Weiner will hold a press conference to announce the introduction of the Health Care Accountability Act (HCAA).

The HCAA will expose a growing and costly national problem of large profitable companies, like Wal-Mart, shifting their health care costs onto taxpayers. Wal-Mart's relentless pursuit of corporate greed has come at a high price for their workers health care. More than 600,000 Wal-Mart workers are not covered by the company's health care plan. Poverty level wages combined with high deductibles, costly premiums and strict eligibility requirements force tens of thousands of Wal-Mart's workers, spouses and dependents onto public health care programs designed for needy families and children.

HCAA will require states to disclose which employers have a high number of employees on public health care assistance, like Medicaid. The Bill will also help determine the extent to which taxpayers are subsidizing the health care costs of large, profitable corporations, like Wal-Mart.

WHAT: Press Conference on the Kennedy-Weiner Health Care Accountability Act

WHERE: Russell Park -- corner of Constitution and Delaware, Washington, D.C.

WHEN: Wednesday, June 22, 1:45 p.m.

WHO: Sen. Ted Kennedy, Sen. Jon Corzine, Rep. Anthony Weiner, Georgia State Rep. Sen. Nan Grogan Orrock, UFCW International President Joe Hansen

BACKGROUND: Wal-Mart, a company with $10 billion dollars in net profit last year, fails to provide health care for more than 52 percent of its 1.3 million workers. In 12 of the 13 states where data has been released and analyzed, Wal-Mart workers rely on public health care, like Medicaid, more than the workers of any other employer.

As a result, in state after state, Wal-Mart is directly shifting its health care responsibilities to American taxpayers. Central to the campaign will be a grassroots effort to build public and political pressure against Wal-Mart to take responsibility for its part in America's health care crisis, as well as a call for legislative action to ensure Wal-Mart -- not taxpayers -- pays its fair share for health care in each and every state.

The "Make Wal-Mart Care About Health Care" campaign is part of a nationwide effort to change Wal-Mart led by wakeupwalmart.com.


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: 109th; news; populistaholes; socialistcons; tedkennedy; walmart; youshoptheretoo
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To: Hardastarboard

Rumor has it that Durbin flushed one down a toilet.


41 posted on 06/21/2005 7:08:55 PM PDT by Tumbleweed_Connection (http://hour9.blogspot.com/)
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To: Tumbleweed_Connection

There isn't any problem except in states that have their own form of socialized medicine such as California.


42 posted on 06/21/2005 7:11:27 PM PDT by bayourod (Unless we get 40% of the Hispanic vote in 2008, President Hillary will take all your guns away.)
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To: SPECIAL FORCES

I worked in the stockroom at Target right up until I had contractions, FRiend. Pregnancy is a condition, not an excuse. I had no limitations or restrictions during my pregnancy. All I had to do was learn how to balance cases of merchandise differently. As far as how much their ins coverage costs, I doubt that it is significantly more than any other large employer.


43 posted on 06/21/2005 7:13:59 PM PDT by grellis (FEMININE-ist)
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To: Tumbleweed_Connection
Gag me. Corzine, of all people. He made his fortune as top executive at Wall Street investment bank Goldman Sachs. Capitalism in its most basic form. And now that he has used the fortune that free enterprise gave him to buy a seat in the Senate, he suddenly becomes the friend of the little guy? BS.

And, if Wally World is forced to pick up more health care costs, how do you suppose they'll pay for it? By passing it along to customers, either directly or indirectly. Just think of it as an additional "sales tax".
44 posted on 06/21/2005 7:31:33 PM PDT by EagleClaw
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To: Adiemus

Tetirees are limited on the $$$ they can make in a year. They will lose their benes if the surpass the amt. Well not really lose them just have the overage deducted.


45 posted on 06/21/2005 7:32:14 PM PDT by marty60
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To: Tumbleweed_Connection

their long range purpose is to establish international work rule standards, fair wages, health care, and to restrict corporations.

in other words, the unions having failed in the u.s. are going for one world order.


46 posted on 06/21/2005 7:36:38 PM PDT by ken21
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To: ken21

I disagree with the health care aspects. The liberals want to destroy a very successful private company over and above all else. Unions would intercede and government defined restrictions would be icing on the cake.


47 posted on 06/21/2005 7:44:07 PM PDT by Tumbleweed_Connection (http://hour9.blogspot.com/)
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To: Tumbleweed_Connection

Let us please step back from the "hot button-ness " of this issue, and the associated familiar anti-corporate nonsense of the loony left for a moment to consider...
Are we happy about the fact that tax dollars go to support Walmart?
?
Nope. Not me, not you. I know you don't.
Now don't go puttin your head in the sand, (deny deny deny...its all lies etc), cuz it is the reality.

So what to do.

Steal the issue...err I mean,
work with em on it.

This is something that Bush and the folks should reach out on,across the aisle,out of common interest.

Less Government Spending. Good?
Yup.


We need to support this good idea, I can honestly see the possiblity of good
bipartisan support for this common sense thinking.

A bilateral movement to reduce the size and expense of government.
It is right there, on the table, right there. See it?



****
Maybe our guys can take the lead on breaking the cable monopolies?
There's another no brainer. It would be really popular amoungst the folks.


48 posted on 06/21/2005 7:54:50 PM PDT by pending
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To: SPECIAL FORCES
Don't know what hellhole you live in, but here in Seattle we have Wal Mart, Target, Fred Meyer, Kohl's, Macys, Nordstrom, Bed Bath and Beyond, Pottery Barn and countless independent retailers. My sister lives in South Carolina and also has a wide choice of retailers to shop at.

Before Wal Mart, folks in rural communities had a choice of the Sears Catalog or overpriced locally owned department stores that were open at odd hours.

49 posted on 06/21/2005 7:57:27 PM PDT by Clemenza (Frylock is my Homeboy)
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To: pending

I do not believe in government intervention to break monopolies.


50 posted on 06/21/2005 7:58:25 PM PDT by Tumbleweed_Connection (http://hour9.blogspot.com/)
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To: Tumbleweed_Connection

What. Is Kennedy finally tired of exposing himself?


51 posted on 06/21/2005 7:59:03 PM PDT by Texas Eagle (A lack of preparation on your part does not constitute an emergency on my part.)
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To: Tumbleweed_Connection
Wal-Mart, a company with $10 billion dollars in net profit last year, fails to provide health care for more than 52 percent of its 1.3 million workers.

RATism in a nutshell. The glass is always 48% empty.

52 posted on 06/21/2005 7:59:50 PM PDT by Texas Eagle (A lack of preparation on your part does not constitute an emergency on my part.)
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To: Tumbleweed_Connection

Meanwhile, the Walmart in our town is set to open in August, and guess what. They are hiring 300 people. Oh the horrors!!!
And guess what else. I won't have to drive as far when I do want to go to WalMart, thus using less gas and creating less petroleum based pollutants.

That being said, I wish WalMart could get more American made products, and less China-made.


53 posted on 06/21/2005 8:03:00 PM PDT by eyespysomething ( A penny saved is a government oversight)
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To: eyespysomething

Interesting that more and more smaller companies are outsourcing to China as well for manufactured products. Other areas of our economy... must be considered.


54 posted on 06/21/2005 8:06:17 PM PDT by Tumbleweed_Connection (http://hour9.blogspot.com/)
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To: Tumbleweed_Connection

That's true, and I don't have the number, but a couple of weeks ago Walter Williams, while filling in for Rush, gave out the numbers for "outsourced" American jobs, and insourced, and there were more insourced jobs.

I have no problem with cheap stuff. I have 3 boys, and need it. I just wish China wasn't the only place to get it. I consider them an enemy. Maybe, as I saw in an earlier article, India can offer them some competition.


55 posted on 06/21/2005 8:15:46 PM PDT by eyespysomething ( A penny saved is a government oversight)
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To: BigSkyFreeper; Tumbleweed_Connection
The "Hate Everything About Wal-Mart" crowd of FR will undoubtedly have a field day with this press conference.

That thread - and I'm sure there will be one, is going to get UGLY. No doubt in my mind.

56 posted on 06/21/2005 8:19:19 PM PDT by Gabz (My give-a-damn is busted.)
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To: Tumbleweed_Connection
Wal-Mart is directly shifting its health care responsibilities to American taxpayers

WTF? What "health care responsibilities"? It's a business, for crying out loud, not a charity and not a social service organization. Where do these idiots get off presuming that *any* business has some sort of inherent responsibility for the medical care of others? God I hate collectivists.

57 posted on 06/21/2005 8:19:34 PM PDT by Sandy
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To: NHAntiMassRedRebel
WalMart is notorious for treating it's employees like dirt. There's no need for a wasteful government investigation, ask 99% of the people who've ever worked there.

You've got no idea what you are talking about. and there ar lots of FReepers that will tell you the same thing because they either do or used to work for WalmMart. Yes, there are some that will agree with you and I won't disagree with their experiences because I am not them. but the majority I have talked to are/were very happy.

58 posted on 06/21/2005 8:24:57 PM PDT by Gabz (My give-a-damn is busted.)
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To: Sandy

Play book - How To Break-Up A Large Successful Private Company


59 posted on 06/21/2005 8:25:28 PM PDT by Tumbleweed_Connection (http://hour9.blogspot.com/)
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To: eyespysomething
I understand and agree with you on the "China" thing. Lately I have been paying attention to where the things I am buying are coming from and when it comes to any of the chains, Walmart has had a lower percentage of stuff from China that I buy than do even some of the local "mom & pop" places I shop. I can't blame Walmart for the fact that the GE stand mixer I bought a few months ago says "Made in China" on the box - Walmart didn't send GE to China - nor did KMart, Penney's, Peeble's, or a host of other retailers where I could have bought the identical item.

Foolish things like this proposal and a whole host of other laws, regulations, taxes, etc have done it........many by some of the very same people railing against Wamart with idiotic legislation like this.

60 posted on 06/21/2005 8:39:55 PM PDT by Gabz (My give-a-damn is busted.)
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