Wisconsin Governor Criticizes Wal-Mart Health Care Plan

Sounds like Wisconsin is tired of suffering with picking up the tab for Wal-Mart’s poor health care coverage. How many people out there know that Alice Walton, Sam Walton’s daughter paid thirty-five million dollars for a painting. That could have helped many Wal-Mart employees with their health care coverage. Thirty-five million dollars is a drop-in-the-bucket to her since she is worth over eighteen-billion dollars.

Bill, what an ignorant statement.  Alice’s personal wealth has nothing to do with how much the company pays for healthcare.  You act like they both come out of the same checkbook....

I think Michael that Bill is just doing what a lot of us do--connecting the dots. What is obvious to anyone who has eyes to see is that the Walton heirs are certainly not going without. Neither is the upper management. If anyone is going without its thousands if not hundreds of thousands of their workers. And Governor Doyle seems to be saying he’s had enough.

Just read this article on Le Monde diplomatique, thought it might be interesting but i don’t know where to post it....

Julie,
Is this it?
http://mondediplo.com/2006/01/05walmart

Even if Wal-Mart were to provide insurance for all of their employees, what would the quality of the coverage be.  It is not just a matter of providing the insurance, but also making sure that the coverage itself is worth paying for.  They need to offer decent policies at a price that the employee who make $14,000.00 a year can afford.  Walmart does need to stepup to the plate, but is it realistic for the American public to think that if the Wal-Mart employees are all insured, those employees will not have to endure huge medical bills that the employees will have to pay for out of their own pocket because the coverage they are provided is still less than acceptable.

Larry in Elmira-
I know for a fact that if I was a multi-billionaire, I wouldn’t go without either.  I am sure that you feel the same way.  Heck, for all I know, you could be a billionaire.  The point that I was trying to make was that the personal wealth of each of the Waltons has nothing to do with associates at Wal-Mart having health insurance.  I am sure that the Wal-Mart Family Foundations does plenty with philanthropy. 

Also, regarding the associates that do well, I know many, many associates that do just fine for having no formal education.  By “just fine,” I mean that they are making upwards of $20 per hour.

Michael D.
You have been at Wal-Mart for 13 years and only know the company as it is since Sam passed away. Let me tell you something, I knew Sam Walton and he took good care of his associates when he controlled the cpmpany. The company had top-notch insurance when he was living along with a gunuine care for the associates. Sam Walton would fire people in his company if they spent money like the Walton family is doing now. If you can sit there and say Wal-Mart cares for their associates like they always have you need to have your head examined.

Furthermore----Michael D.  The point in the matter is that the Walton family could not be so greedy and allow money to stay in the company to take care of the people that are adding to her over eighteen billion in worth. The CEO of Costco only takes $350,000.00 a year in salary and he says that is enough for anyone to live. He allows the money to stay in the compnay to take car of his associates. He pays his associates over 55% higher wages that Wal-Mart. The average hourly wage at Costco is $17.00 per hour compared to Wal-Mart’s and Sam’s club of just over $9.00 per hour.

I came across an interesting article in the Wall Street Journal last week that the SEC is looking into CEO Pay and Stock Compensation of many of the top Companies in the US that also includes WM.  This is in relation to the Maryland decision regarding the health Care issue.

The WSJ states that companies that over compensate their CEOs and various Execs with Stock and Heakth Care Options and other perks not available to their employees, they are in the position to see that their employees have access to affordable Health Care.

This becomes a Human Rights issue along with States Rights not to have their taxpayers pay for the Health Care for companies whose profits are in the BILLIONS..

Michael D:

Your response to Karry in elmira (above) was sadly hilarious.  It shows how out of touch you are with reality.

You stated: “I know for a fact that if I was a multi-billionaire, I wouldn’t go without either.” Let’s see...do you mean to say Michael that you WOULD go without if you were only a multi-millionaire instead?

You also said the “personal wealth of each of the Waltons has nothing to do with associates at Wal-Mart having health insurance.” Where do you think this “personal wealth” came from?  What company was that again?

You must keep in mind that each and every person who applies at Wal-Mart is given the opportunity to have insurance.  The problem is, a large majority of the people who recently started working for WM also have no problem taking a hand-out from the state/federal welfare system.  I have been at WM for over 15 years and I hear it in the break room everyday, why would I go to work somewhere else and take a chance on losing my food stamps and other welfare programs.  They have 3 or 4 kids, not married and don’t have a problem living on the system.  WM can’t be to blame for who applies at their store and they can not help who applies for these welfare benefits and doesn’t intend on getting off of the system.

This blog is stuffed with envy and jealousy. The Walton’s are rich because daddy was a genius retailer. Who cares how many billions they earn each year. They own it...and all you who loved Sam W. had better respect his choice of having his children inherit his wealth.  It is what most parents want to do--earn money so their children have a better life. It would also be professional to respect their private property.

Envy and greed is what you accuse the Waltons and WM execs. of having. Well, I accuse YOU of the very same. Stop trying to pull down the successful. Good businessmen/women are the reason we have the standard of living we have today. If it weren’t for them all the Wal-Mart associates would be worse off. You all see the economy as a big pie that the Waltons are hogging. WRONG. Dead wrong. Wal-Mart has created more wealth, more money, more jobs, and more opportunity than any of us will ever hope to do ourselves.

Jim Doyle is the type of politician who ruins economies because he doesn’t have the courage to stand against this senseless (yet popular) movement.

So, Ed in Illinois, a woman who is a single mother of 3-4 kids should take the chance of losing her food stamps (and thus her ability to feed her children); ditto for losing health insurance for her children.  Feeding her children makes her a good mother, and if she needs to work the system to get food stamps so that she has enough food for her children, then so be it.  The alternative today is for her to let the children starve.  Maybe if welfare were changed so that she could get food stamps and a higher wage elsewhere?  Later ....

Nat T. in Provo:  I’ve met Jim Doyle a couple of times.  I’m familiar with the things he’s done and some of the things he hasn’t done as governor.  I agree with some of these and disagree with others.  YOU however, have no basis to talk about Jim Doyle, any more than I have a basis to talk about the governor of Utah.

Screwedby, no, I would not go without if I were a millionaire either.  No attempt was made to show at what point of wealth I would “go without.” I have no idea why you bring that up....

To think that the Walton family should take some of their wealth and give it to the associates for healthcare is without substance.

DeeDee in Atlanta-
A single mother with 3-4 kids obviously made some poor decisions in life, that caused her to be poor.  The mother should be forced to make a living for herself, and if she is not able to community service could be suffcient.  Nobody should be allowed to accept hand outs. One would hope that the kids will learn from their parents mistakes.  I feel for the kids brought down by the ignorance of their parents, I know personally, my mother was and still is a welfare mother and as long as it is allowed always will be.  DEEDEE why work hard if your neighbor will support you and your kids.  Get a job and quit having kids you cannot take care of.  Wal Mart wages cannot support that eeeeeverrrrryone knows that.

UMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!! As mentioned many times in other threads, the “floodgates” are closing.  THIS BILL IS NOW DEAD IN WISCONSIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Others are seeing the light....

Screwedby,

Well said.
I’m in no position to make assumptions about Gov. Doyle. I retract my statement about him. I’m sure he has plenty of courage, and I am completely unfamiliar with his previous policies.

Sorry Michael!  Don’t pop the cork on that bottle of Champagne just yet.

I’m a little closer to the action than you are.  The Fair Share Health Care legislation is anything but “dead” in Wisconsin.  While the Assembly has been stonewalling a hearing on the matter, plans are in the works to introduce (AB 860) to the state senate.

I also believe there are still about 10 states where this issue is very much alive.  As they say, “Stay tuned!”

Even if this proposal enters the senate I beleive it will be shut down.  This is a bill that gets very little republican support and there are not enough democrats to get a majority vote.  Maryland is a democrat state that is why they were able to override the Gov’s veto.  I do not see this winning in Wisconsin, and if it does what is the point they cannot enforce it.

So M Cooper-- are you saying that Wal-Mart is nothing more than one big Scofflaw? 

I think if the Republicans were smart, they’d break with their party and get a little more bi-partisan on this issue.  2008 isn’t that far away, and many voters have a long memory.

Anybody Game?-

My 3 questions to everyone are; is this really about health care?  If it is then what is the penalty for non-compliance? Last question is how will this hold up against a court maybe the Supreme Court?

Fragment (consider revising) I do not believe this can be done because in order to develop a good response would call for intelligence.  Why would someone waste their one brilliant statement on this, which would leave their head empty to implode?

Anybody Game?-

My 3 questions to everyone are; is this really about health care?  If it is then what is the penalty for non-compliance? Last question is how will this hold up against a court maybe the Supreme Court?

I do not believe this can be done because in order to develop a good response would call for intelligence.  Why would someone waste their one brilliant statement on this, which would leave their head empty to implode?

M Coop:

Nice try!  Yes...this is about healthcare!  Nobody is in non-compliance and so far this has not gone before any higher court.  If someone “developed a good response” to your questions, it would not be an intelligent response, but one that is based on speculation.

Hey M Coop:

I’m curious.  Who is editing your posts here?  I noticed you posted two times...the first post has a comment: “Fragment (consider revising)” You aren’t being coached by the people running Wal-Mart’s war room are you?

ScrewedbyWal-Mart in Anytown, USA-
Ah you found me out; yes the Wal-Mart war room is coaching me.  I have them at my beckon call they are here day and night 24/7.  I have them sit at my computer and when they see any thing new they alert me, I then rush to my office where they suggest what and how to respond.
Actually it was a bet; I bet my wife that you think you are so smart that if I make it appear that I had someone proofread that you would be the first one to notice.  She has not seen many of your posts, so she does not know how petty and badly informed you are.  I was actually on the fence with that bet especially after your first post, but then, home run you came through for me just as expected.
I do have to disagree with your first post there is an intelligent response to all three questions, and do your homework.  I asked what the penalty is for non-compliance, and since the bill does not take effect till 2007 of course there is not non-compliance.  The last question was how it will hold up against a court.
You were only able to answer one question, the easy one the yes or no. I could not expect anybody to respond to all three.  What could one expect from a group of ignorant anuses?

ScrewedbyWal-Mart in Anytown, USA-
Just out of curiosity what is your position for the union and what union do to represent.  Since we all know that the Wal-Mart war room follows me around and lives at my house, so that I can be coached, it is only fair we know a little about you.  I do not expect you to respond and this is another bet with my wife, or war room coaching as you like to call it.

It does not matter if these Health bills pass or not, Wal-Mart is already starting to make sure there Associates work less the 32 hours so they will not be able to apply for Health Insurance because they will be part-time.

Remember Wal-Mart has many high priced Lawyers and lobbist working for them, they are always one step ahead

I’d like to approach this from another angle.  Many people, myself included, would like to see a single payor, government run, health care system in the United States for a variety of good reasons.  I think that if enough middle-class Americans find themselves without health insurance, a single payor program will be put into effect by legislators and executives who otherwise will find themselves out of office. 

However, many of the same people who say they want a single payor plan, reverse course when it comes to WalMart.  Suddenly they just abandon the single payor government model and throw the health insurance burden back on private insurance paid for by employers. 

This employer-paid, health care insurance isn’t working as well as it did for many people.  Co-pays are going up steadily, premiums are increasing, and the plans are getting so complicated that many can’t understand them.  Forcing WalMart to provide coverage is like putting a band aid on a cancer.  There are thousands of employers that don’t pay for employee health care and thousands more who provide coverage that is just inadequate. 

It would be in people’s best interest to work toward getting a universal, single payor, government health care plan enacted rather than expending effort in fighting skirmishes with WalMart.

Some very good comments.  Walmart can afford to give us better coverage, but refuse too.  And yes, Walmart is making sure, NOone will be full-time.  I would be nice to be able to go to the doctor and know some of it would be paid.  As it is now, last year I had almost $500 and not even $150 was aloud for the deduction.  That is why anyone with a family can’t afford to be Walmarts insurance.  One person had $350 deductible and had over $20,000 in medical bills to pay and that was just one person.  Walmart really doesn’t care if we are healthy.  You get sick, call in, your called a lier.