Post by Tom Hughes on Jan 6, 2006 12:46:21 GMT -4
In recent months, Wal-Mart -- America's largest corporation and private employer -- has been exposed for shifting billions of dollars of its employees' health care costs to Medicaid. The rest of us pay our fair share. We carry our weight, pay our taxes and, on top of that, contribute to the community through charitable donations.
The Fair Share Health Care Act, passed by the Maryland Legislature in 2005, recognized the inherently unfair nature of this relationship and sought to level the playing field by forcing any employer with more than 10,000 employees to pay its fair share. There are only four companies in Maryland that large, and only Wal-Mart fails to cover an acceptable amount of health care coverage for its employees.
The bill passed the Maryland Legislature but unfortunately it was vetoed by Governor Ehrlich. When the legislature returns on January 11, they will have a chance to override the Governor's veto.
Please call your legislators and urge them to support the Fair Share Health Care Act today:
1-800-492-7122
or
mdelect.net/electedofficials/
Since the veto, a recently leaked internal Wal-Mart memo on health care, covered by national media, illustrated that Wal-Mart has no intention of changing its policies. The memo clearly demonstrated that Wal-Mart's health care policies are designed to continue to shirk the company's responsibilities to their workers and the communities the company serves. Currently, 46% of Wal-Mart employees' dependents rely on public assistance. Wal-Mart's new proposals, as the memo reveals, are geared towards cutting spending on employee health care, hiring more part-time employees, and discouraging unhealthy people from working at Wal-Mart -- leaving even more Wal-Mart workers with inadequate health care coverage, forcing them to rely on public assistance for the care they need.
The Fair Share Health Care Act is being supported by a broad coalition of organizations including business, faith-based, union, and community groups who are demanding that Wal-Mart pay its fair share. We will no longer accept Wal-Mart's unfair tactic of shifting health care costs.
Please contact your Maryland Delegates and ask them override the Governor's veto of the Fair Share Health Care Act. Let your voice be heard.
1-800-492-7122
After you make your call, please let us know at:
democracyforamerica.com/md_report
Sincerely,
Tom Hughes
Executive Director
Democracy for America
P.S. On the first day of the legislative session on January 11th, DFA members from across Maryland are gathering in Annapolis to meet with their legislators to urge them to support the Fair Share Health Care Act. To find out more and to RSVP, visit:
www.dfalink.com/event.php?id=3848
The Fair Share Health Care Act, passed by the Maryland Legislature in 2005, recognized the inherently unfair nature of this relationship and sought to level the playing field by forcing any employer with more than 10,000 employees to pay its fair share. There are only four companies in Maryland that large, and only Wal-Mart fails to cover an acceptable amount of health care coverage for its employees.
The bill passed the Maryland Legislature but unfortunately it was vetoed by Governor Ehrlich. When the legislature returns on January 11, they will have a chance to override the Governor's veto.
Please call your legislators and urge them to support the Fair Share Health Care Act today:
1-800-492-7122
or
mdelect.net/electedofficials/
Since the veto, a recently leaked internal Wal-Mart memo on health care, covered by national media, illustrated that Wal-Mart has no intention of changing its policies. The memo clearly demonstrated that Wal-Mart's health care policies are designed to continue to shirk the company's responsibilities to their workers and the communities the company serves. Currently, 46% of Wal-Mart employees' dependents rely on public assistance. Wal-Mart's new proposals, as the memo reveals, are geared towards cutting spending on employee health care, hiring more part-time employees, and discouraging unhealthy people from working at Wal-Mart -- leaving even more Wal-Mart workers with inadequate health care coverage, forcing them to rely on public assistance for the care they need.
The Fair Share Health Care Act is being supported by a broad coalition of organizations including business, faith-based, union, and community groups who are demanding that Wal-Mart pay its fair share. We will no longer accept Wal-Mart's unfair tactic of shifting health care costs.
Please contact your Maryland Delegates and ask them override the Governor's veto of the Fair Share Health Care Act. Let your voice be heard.
1-800-492-7122
After you make your call, please let us know at:
democracyforamerica.com/md_report
Sincerely,
Tom Hughes
Executive Director
Democracy for America
P.S. On the first day of the legislative session on January 11th, DFA members from across Maryland are gathering in Annapolis to meet with their legislators to urge them to support the Fair Share Health Care Act. To find out more and to RSVP, visit:
www.dfalink.com/event.php?id=3848