A lobbying group pushing for universal health care released a poll this week showing strong support in the Annapolis area for a bill that targets big corporations.
My Comments: There is a reason why Astle rhymes with a$$hole. If you take a look at his campaign contributions, the first page alone shows atleast 3 different medical/health insurance related donations. Even when his constituents say they support the bill, he is still going to not vote for the override. With Democrats like these...who needs Republicans?
Poll shows support for 'Wal-Mart bill'
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A lobbying group pushing for universal health care released a poll this week showing strong support in the Annapolis area for a bill that targets big corporations.
The Maryland Citizens' Health Initiative's poll asked 400 voters if they support the so-called "Wal-Mart bill" that requires businesses with 10,000 employees or more to devote at least 8 percent of their payrolls to employee health benefits.
Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. vetoed the bill last spring, but the poll found that voters in District 30, which includes the Annapolis and Broadneck peninsulas down to South River, support it.
According to the poll conducted in August by Potomac Inc., based in Montgomery County, 63 percent of the district's voters support the bill and 26 percent oppose it.
The survey has been accompanied by radio ads in the Baltimore region in which business owners argue the bill is good for them.
Republicans and Democrats have split over the issue, and many conservative Democrats have voted with Republicans against the Wal-Mart bill, including Sen. John C. Astle, D-Annapolis, in District 30.
"We think that fair share heath care is good public policy and good politics," said Vinnie DeMarco, president of the Maryland Citizens' Health Initiative. "This bill is good for business."
Mr. Astle voted against the bill because he said it doesn't treat businesses equally. And he's not planning to change his vote.
"Are we going to put something in place that eventually will find its way to the small shops in Maryland that are just squeaking by?" he said.
Democrats are confident they can override the governor's veto on Jan. 11 when the General Assembly convenes in Annapolis, but they'll have to do it without the conservative Democrats and Republicans in the county's delegation.