Wal-Mart Gets Behind Employer Mandate

[RamboLiberal]

Source: Washington Post

Wal-Mart, the world’s largest private employer, announced in a letter to President Obama today that it will support a requirement that all businesses provide health insurance coverage as part of sweeping health reform legislation.

The endorsement of the so-called employer mandate represents a dramatic reversal for the retailing giant and a boost for the White House as it tries to inject momentum into its top domestic priority.

“We are for shared responsibility,” Wal-Mart President and CEO Mike Duke wrote. “Not every business can make the same contributions, but everyone must make some contribution.”

The letter, which was co-signed by the heads of a prominent labor union and a left-leaning think tank, does not detail how the requirement would be structured or what sort of penalties could be imposed on companies that fail to offer insurance.

Nevertheless, today’s announcement following a meeting at the White House with chief of staff Rahm Emanuel, buttresses administration arguments that rising health costs are an integral component to the weakened economy and hamper global competitiveness.



Read more: http://voices.washingtonpost.com/health-care-reform/200...

[PSPS]

1. "offer insurance" isn' the same as "provide healthcare"

More theater. Wally-care: You're "covered" until you make a claim, after which the claim is denied anyway and you're fired to boot. Some improvement!

[cosmicone]

2. Some people find a dark cloud next to every silver lining...

this is actually progress and good news.

[Robb]

15. Perhaps. But it's also Walmart, not the Red Cross.

Healthy skepticism is appropriate.

[wildflower]

3. Never mind, ad appears to be an SEIU parody

[tomm2thumbs]

4. right after doing that, they declare themselves to be a 'religion' and get around the rule /nt

[madrchsod]

5. wal-mart does have insurance and it`s to costly for the average worker...

http://wakeupwalmart.com/facts/#healthcare

it`s all about the bottom line for walmart.

[Selatius]

6. Nothing is ever free in the corporate world. Wal-Mart wants strings attached, I'm willing to bet.

This is the big leagues we are talking about here, and Wal-Mart is one of the biggest players. I would imagine Wal-Mart wants concessions in exchange for their support.

I guess one area they could want concessions is to gut the card check clause in the Employee Free-Choice Act that labor unions are desperately trying to get past the conservatives.

[madmom]

7. Everyone wants concessions for health care/insurance. My SO worked for

GM they had to give up a lot to get health care, now they've lost a lot of health care and still don't have what they gave up to concessions.

[lefthandedlefty]

8. Forcing all business to buy health insurance is just plain wrong

I am self employed and there is no way I could afford health insurance I already pay more for liability ins. than I actually pay myself.I think most small businesses are in about the same shape right now.

[No Elephants]

10. You've seen a bill that has no exemption at all for small business, Lefty?

[lefthandedlefty]

11. No,but if Wal-Mart likes it you can bet it will be bad for small business

Just about every where they go small business goes under then they hire former owners for door greeters.

[No Elephants]

16. Let's stick with one issue and entity at a time, namely the gubbamint supposedly forcing small

businesses to buy health insurance.

Before I got exercised over that, I'd find out if any exemptions for small business are in the works. If not, I'd get my fellow small business owners together and go from there. So, I'd recommend calling your Congressional Rep and asking about exemptions as your first step.

[philosophie_en_rose]

9. Nice try, Walmart.

Supporting employers passing the buck to employees isn't going to help people in need.

[Lost Jaguar]

12. I smell a rat.

I'm willing to listen, but I have serious doubts about this.

[Vinca]

13. The rat is wearing day-glo orange.

Walmart can afford to provide some form of health insurance for employees, but how about the mom and pop store down the street that is just hanging on? Walmart wants to make sure there isn't a small business left standing so we have to buy everything we require from them.

[laureloak]

14. Walmart looking to run more Mom&Pop's out of business. n/t