Maryland to drive large employers out of state

S2 · 01-13-2006, 06:52 PM

Quote:

Legislation Will Ensure That All Large, Profitable Corporations
in Maryland Pay Their "Fair Share" of Their Employees' Health Care

ANNAPOLIS, Md., Jan. 12 /PRNewswire/ -- As legislatures across the country
begin to introduce Fair Share Health Care legislation, Maryland today became
the first state to pass legislation that will hold large, profitable
corporations responsible for offering affordable health care coverage to their
employees. The Fair Share Health Care Act passed the Senate by a vote of 30-
17 and the House by a vote of 88-50.
"We are pleased to see that Maryland legislators stepped up and made a
statement about what kind of businesses they want in their state," said Anna
Burger, Secretary-Treasurer of the Service Employees International Union
(SEIU). "Marylanders deserve businesses that provide for their employees, pay
a decent wage and provide affordable health care, not those that expect
taxpayers to foot the bill for their bottom-line corporate profits. They get
that with Fair Share Health Care."
"Thanks to tens of thousands of Health Care Voters, responsible
legislators, relentless organizing and lobbying we can finally declare Fair
Share Health Care Victory," stated Jonathan Parker, national director for
Americans for Health Care, a project of SEIU. "With Maryland having blazed
the trail for Fair Share Health Care, nearly thirty other states have joined
the movement to take a big first step in addressing our nation's health care
crisis."
Recent polling shows that voters overwhelmingly support such legislation.
Eighty-three (83) percent of voters nationwide support (67% strongly)
requiring large profitable companies to either provide health insurance for
the employees or pay a percentage of their payroll into a health care fund.
In coalition with allied organizations and elected officials, Maryland for
Health Care, part of Americans for Health Care, helped draft the Fair Share
legislation and led the effort to secure its passage. The grassroots advocacy
campaign ran radio and newspaper ads urging legislators to support the measure
and override the veto; organized lobby days in Annapolis with hundreds of
Health Care Voters; and mobilized thousands of Health Care Voters around the
state to contact their legislators.
The Fair Share Health Care Act would require large, profitable
corporations with 10,000 or more employees to spend at least 8 percent of
their payroll on health care for their employees or pay the difference of what
they do provide into a state fund to defray the costs of uncompensated medical
care to the taxpayers of Maryland.

Americans for Health Care, a grassroots advocacy campaign, was formed by
the Service Employees International Union in 2002. To date, Americans for
Health Care has signed up 425,000 Health Care Voters and established campaigns
in 16 states across the country to fight for access to quality, affordable
health care for all. http://www.ImAHealthCareVoter.org

Any state that wants large employers need only refrain from passing such legislation

Cassius · 01-13-2006, 08:49 PM

Quote:

The Fair Share Health Care Act would require large, profitable
corporations with 10,000 or more employees to spend at least 8 percent of
their payroll on health care for their employees or pay the difference of what
they do provide into a state fund to defray the costs of uncompensated medical care to the taxpayers of Maryland.

They're doing this because of Wal-Mart. I read another article and it said that out of all the companies with 10,000 or more employees in Maryland, Wal-mart is the ONLY one that does not spend 8 percent or more of their payroll on healthcare. Wal-mart charges a lot for their healthcare, and the people that can't afford it go into Maryland's medicaid system.

That means we, as taxpayers, are subsidizing Wal-mart's healthcare system.

Buzzby · 01-13-2006, 11:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by S2

Any state that wants large employers need only refrain from passing such legislation

And when all 50 states have passed it where would the large employers go?

What we need to do is get healthcare costs under control. They've been racing ahead of inflation for three decades. HMOs are extremely profitable and so are the pharmaceutical companies. As long as the insurance companies keep paying whatever they ask, prices will continue to spiral and people without insurance will be unable to afford decent health care.

S2 · 01-14-2006, 01:34 AM

Why? Mexico of course

Just think how much cars would cost if we bought them like health services.

People should shop for health care--

Buzzby · 01-14-2006, 01:44 AM

I don't think I'd drive to Mexico to go to Wal-Mart...

Cassius · 01-14-2006, 03:08 AM

Quote:

And when all 50 states have passed it where would the large employers go?

Considering the only company in Maryland affected by this legislation is Wal-mart, why do you think other states would be any different? Do Maryland employers contribute significantly more than the national average or something?

Or are you really just worried about losing your Wal-mart? =P

TheNewGuy · 01-14-2006, 03:14 AM

Its all political, this is doing more harm than good. Maryland needs the jobs supplied by Wal-Mart, but Wal-Mart doesn't need Maryland. The people won't benefit from this when they get laid-off.

01-14-2006, 03:14 AM	#7
TheNewGuy Sr. Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 531 Grams: 5,398.65 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post Stock Portfolio Total Value: 0.000 Gain/Loss: 0.000%	Its all political, this is doing more harm than good. Maryland needs the jobs supplied by Wal-Mart, but Wal-Mart doesn't need Maryland. The people won't benefit from this when they get laid-off. __________________ "Anyway, no drug, not even alcohol, causes the fundamental ills of society. If we're looking for the source of our troubles, we shouldn't test people for drugs, we should test them for stupidity, ignorance, greed and love of power." ~P.J. O'Rourke

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