One of the most egregious forms that corporate welfare takes is big business’ reliance on underpaying their workforces, relying on the rest of us to support their profits by providing public assistance in the forms of housing subsidies and food stamps. California House Rep. Ro Khanna (CA-17) introduced a bill last Wednesday that is tailored to handle that. Called the Corporate Responsibility and Taxpayer Protection Act, the bill would hold big corporations accountable for the tax bill their low-wage employees run up when they are forced to receive public assistance.
"Companies are short-changing their employees by not paying a living wage. These companies are creating a drain on the economy by underpaying workers and should be responsible for covering the cost of the programs their employees rely on to make ends meet," said Rep. Ro Khanna. "It is my hope that this bill will further incentivize these companies to pay their employees a living wage without cutting their hours."
"When people are working hard to support themselves and their loved ones, there’s no reason they should be living paycheck to paycheck or choosing between rent and feeding their family. By underpaying their employees, corporations force workers to rely on social safety net programs just to survive," said Rep. Pramila Jayapal, a cosponsor of the bill. "It’s time for these businesses to step up and do the right thing by paying their employees a living wage."
"Every American should have the basics: affordable housing and a livable wage. It is unconscionable that CEOs siphon off billions to line their own pockets while their employees struggle to make ends meet," said Rep. Barbara Lee, a cosponsor of the bill. "I am proud to cosponsor Corporate Responsibility and Taxpayer Protection Act, which puts the well-being of struggling families first and strengthens essential programs that are a bridge over troubled water for Americans in need."
Medicaid, housing, SNAP (food assistance), and school food programs would be covered in the act that you can read here. This bill has something for everyone. Republicans don’t want public assistance programs because they need those wealthy tax breaks, and Democrats don’t want corporate welfare programs because fuck off. This way, we both get what we want and maybe millions of people won’t have to continue under subsistence-level living conditions in the wealthiest country on the planet.