January 25, 2006

HRC On Wal Mart

Speaking of Sen. Clinton and health care...

In a speech today to mayors in Washington, Clinton discussed, for the first time we know of, efforts by states to force companies like Wal-Mart to shoulder a larger portion of employee's health care costs.

Of the President's State of the Union proposals, Clinton said that they would "shift costs and risks even more on the backs of individuals, many of whom will not be able to carry it. It is troubling to me that when we look at this shifting of costs, again the buck stops with state and local government. You know that many uninsured people show up in the emergency rooms in the hospitals in your cities."

Clinton continues: "Maryland recently sought to address this cost-shifting, requiring that companies like Wal-Mart put 8 percent of their payroll costs into employee health benefits . . . or contribute to state-sponsored insurance for the working poor. Similar steps have been taken in New York City and elsewhere in New York. Because cities and states are saying, we can't keep holding the bag here. Everybody has got to be part of the solution because we are all part of the problem that we confront."

To be clear: Clinton does not necessarily endorse MD's approach. But she suggests that such state-based interventions are made more likely by the health care philosophy of the governing Republican class.

Clinton, by the way, was a Wal-Mart board member before her husband ran for president.

Posted at 06:29 PM

Comments

That would be Hillary Clinton, former Wal-Mart board member if I'm not mistaken.

No sale, Senator.

Frank in Boulder | 01.25.06 06:42 PM

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