Sometimes you just have to love Maryland. Yes, I know - inexplicably they elected a pro-business pro-Bush Governor. But their legislature remains true to the values and concerns of the working middle and lower-middle classes.
In February, Democrats in the Marland State Senate put forward the Fair Share Health Care Fund Act (SB 790). This is one piece of legislation that Wal-Mart is fighting fiercely to defeat. If you want to hear more, drive cautiously over the speed bump for details.
Esentially, the Fair Share Health Care Fund Act applies to for-profit Corporations in Maryland with 10,000 or more employees. These Corporations would have to pay a tax levy to the State if they fail to spend a minimum of 8% of their payroll costs on health care (not-for-profit organizations such as Johns Hopkins have a 6% requirement).
As David Nitkin in the Baltimore Sun reported in his April 6, 2005 article, the Maryland employers affected under this legislation would be Giant Food, Johns Hopkins, Northrop Grumman, and Wal-Mart. Of the four, however, only Wal-Mart would be required to pay the tax as they are the only employer not currently meeting the prescribed threshold.
Wal-Mart and the RWNM are, of course, stirring the pot in opposition to this legislation. Republican Governor Robert Ehrlich has stated outright that he will veto the bill. Unfortunately for his Republican and Corporate friends, the legislation passed its latest round with more than enough votes to override any such veto.
According to Nitkin's article, Republican delegates are also stirring the "fear of unemployment" pot in response to this. Take this quote from E.J. Pipkin, a Republican from Maryland's Eastern shore:
"This is the most dangerous bill to job creation ... that the great state of Maryland has seen in 10 years."
Funny, but I recall reading that only three for-profit and one not-for-profit Corporation met the criteria, and, of those, only Wal-Mart was not already in compliance. How is that going to stifle job-creation, especially when Mr. Pipkin's party claims that small businesses represent the lion's share of job growth in the first place? Mr. Pipkin, methinks your key contributors for your US Senate run against the venerable Barbara Mikulski are showing... tsk tsk.
Democrats (as usual) make a lot of sense on the issue as well. Essentially, they point out that Wal-Mart employees disproportionately use Medicare and Medicaid because of their lack of health coverage. It amounts, in essence, to Corporate welfare given only to Wal-Mart in the State of Maryland. It would appear that the vast majority of the Maryland legislature, faced with shrinking state coffers, agree.
What fascinates me is the juxtaposition of this issue with the National political scene. There is no doubt that an erosion of States' rights on the part of Republicans is starting to take its toll on the party. Gay marriage, Terri Schiavo, No Child Left Behind, ad nauseum ad infinitum. The carefully cultivated Republican veneer of promoting States' Rights and smaller government is flaking away and mainstream Republicans (can't count the nutty Christian Right in that group) don't like it. Further, it is becoming increasingly apparent that Republicans in the Maryland state legislature and the Maryland Governor aren't going to be able to stop this little pro-family gem. My guess (and I'm taking bets if anyone is interested) is that Wal-Mart will wind up whining and pressuring Bushco into making an attempt at writing National legislation barring Maryland's attempt. Yet another nail in the coffin of States' rights.
I see a plethora of opportunity in this. A bill like this could and should be repeated in every State in our United States. I've never been one for more localized politics, but I believe that that is where the action on this needs to occur. Although I am the biggest offender of not being familiar with my State legislature (Virginia), I am going to quickly become familiar with it and write my Democratic Delegates with a copy of Maryland's SB 790 and encourage them to take up similar efforts.
Thus my call to action. Go to your State legislature's home page and identify your delegates as well as Democratic and independent delegates. Send them a short note encouraging similar legislation and attach either a copy of SB 790 or a link to the legislation itself. It may not work in Republican-controlled states, but it's a keeper in split and Democratic controlled states, and especially those where the budget has become a huge issue. Remember - this type of legislation addresses the largest employers and not only saves Medicare and Medicaid (and therefore tax dollars) but deflects that cost to the rightful owner(s): the businesses who seek entitlement on the backs of working middle and lower-middle class Americans.
We are the 'values' party and this is one way to show it. Hit the Republicans on an issue that is repeatedly hurting them and score one for Joe America.
Thanks for reading!!