Fair Share Health Care in Washington
What People are Saying
“It requires them to put their money where their mouth is,” said David Groves, spokesman for the Washington State Labor Council. “If it’s true that they provide decent health benefits, then they would have no problem meeting that threshold, as almost every company in this state does.” ...
“Their entire business model is built on keeping prices and labor costs low; that’s why, when it comes to health care, they would prefer to have taxpayers pay for it than to pay for it themselves,” Groves said. “Clearly they can afford it.”
Seattle Post-Intelligencer, 1/19/06
“Who’s leeching off whom? Many of you said it may feel good beating on Wal-Mart, but it won’t solve the health-care crisis. And that is true. But this isn’t about the health-care crisis. It’s about corporate welfare. It’s about how one of the world’s most profitable companies has figured out how to get us to pick up its tab.”
Seattle Times, 1/25/06
“Wal-Mart follows a business model of providing minimal health care, which it knows will shift costs to taxpayers and other employers. A recent news article said more than 3,100 of Wal-Mart’s employees in Washington are on taxpayer-funded health care plans. This practice by Wal-Mart and some other large employers has a direct impact on the entire state. The cost to taxpayers is estimated at tens of millions of dollars a year.” Olympian op-ed from State Treas. Mike Murphy, 2/3/06
Critical Facts
- Wal-Mart employees: 6,021 (as of March 2006)
- Party Split of the Legislature:
House: 55 Democrats, 43 Republicans
Senate: 26 Democrats, 23 Republicans - Summary of House and Senate Bills: Legislation would require companies with more than 5,000 employees to spend an amount equal to at least 9% of employee wages for for-profits and 7% for non-profits.
- Status of both bills: Introduced 1/10/06; committee hearing 1/19/06
- Title of House Bill: HB 2517—
Establishing minimum labor standards for certain large employers as related to health care services expenditures. - House Sponsors:
Rep. Eileen Cody, 34th Dist., Dem.
Rep. Steve Conway, 29th Dist., Dem.
Rep. Maralyn Chase, 32nd Dist., Dem.
Rep. Dawn Morrell, 25th Dist., Dem.
Rep. Sherry Appleton, 23rd Dist., Dem., Assistant Majority Whip
Rep. Tami Green, 28th Dist., Dem., Assistant Majority Whip
Rep. Alex Wood, 3rd Dist., Dem.
Rep. Bob Hasegawa, 11th Dist., Dem.
Rep. Zack Hudgins, 11th Dist., Dem., Assistant Majority Floor Leader
Rep. Timm Ormsby, 3rd Dist., Dem.
Rep. Mark Miloscia, 30th Dist., Dem.
Rep. Mary Lou Dickerson, 36th Dist., Dem.
Rep. Phyllis Kenney, 46th Dist., Dem.
Rep. Jim Moeller, 49th Dist., Dem.
Rep. Joe McDermott, 34th Dist., Dem.
Rep. Mike Sells, 38th Dist., Dem.
Rep. Sam Hunt, 22nd Dist., Dem., Majority Floor Leader
Rep. Brendan Williams, 22nd Dist., Dem.
Rep. Geoff Simpson, 47th Dist., Dem. - Rep. Mary Helen Roberts, 21st Dist., Dem.
Rep. Shay Schual-Berke, 33rd Dist., Dem.
Rep. Patricia Lantz, 26th Dist., Dem. - Rep. Jim McIntire, 46th Dist., Dem.
Rep. Ruth Kagi, 32nd Dist., Dem. - House Committee: Commerce & Labor
- Title of Senate Bill: SB 6356
Establishing minimum labor standards for certain large employers as related to health care services expenditures. - Senate Sponsors:
Sen. Jeanne Kohl-Welles, 36th Dist., Dem.
Sen. Karen Keiser, 33rd Dist., Dem.
Sen. Rosemary McAuliffe, 1st Dist., Dem.
Sen. Rosa Franklin, 29th Dist., Dem., President Pro Tempore
Sen. Pat Thibaudeau, 43rd Dist., Dem., Majority Caucus Vice Chair
Sen. Darlene Fairley, 32nd Dist., Dem.
Sen. Margarita Prentice, 11th Dist., Dem.
Sen. Adam Kline, 37th Dist., Dem. - Senate Committee: Labor, Commerce, Research & Development
Want to get involved? Email Christy Margelli at .
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