Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Politics : Politics for Pros- moderated -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: JohnM who wrote (12162)	10/13/2003 8:37:43 PM
From: LindyBill	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 793622

This one has the potential to be a large deal in Jersey. Right, wrong, or sideways, John. It brought the schools "up to the mark" and this hadn't been done before. It is causing change.

To: JohnM who wrote (12162)	10/13/2003 9:06:48 PM
From: LindyBill	Respond to of 793622

Ya can't go wrong going after Wal-Mart. After all, they are as big and rich as they come. __________________________________________ Kerry assails Wal-Mart over health policies By HOLLY RAMER Union Leader NEWMARKET (AP) - Democratic presidential hopeful John Kerry pitched his health insurance plan to a small business Friday while blasting the nation's largest private employer for its "disgraceful" treatment of employees. The Massachusetts senator was explaining his plan to workers at Russound when one asked how he could help part-time employees of large retail chains who are ineligible for benefits. Linda Mariotti didn't mention a particular chain, but Kerry did, accusing Wal-Mart Stores Inc. of luring workers in with the promise of health insurance then urging them to enroll in government health programs for the poor. "They advertise Medicaid for their workers rather than provide them absolutely with the help. I think it's disgraceful, and I think we need a president who's prepared to help shed light," Kerry said. "I think Wal-Mart's health care practices are unconscionable, and the way they treat employees is not fair." Wal-Mart and other companies that employ such practices should be punished by losing some of their tax deductions, Kerry said. "They throw a lot of money around, they get a lot of things happening, but it ain't necessarily good for the community," he said. "We need to stand up and demand they behave corporately responsibly." A spokeswoman for Wal-Mart said Kerry "simply does not know what he is talking about. "It's irresponsible," said Mona Williams, vice president for communications. "I don't know where Sen. Kerry's getting his facts, but someone better do their homework before he talks about Wal-Mart again." Similar allegations were raised during the recall election in California. During one debate, Lt. Gov. Cruz Bustamante accused Wal-Mart of giving workers "official documents to go and apply for food stamps and public health care." Williams said that isn't true. The company does provide workers who are applying for loans or social services with a number to call to have their income verified, she said. Wal-Mart has about 1.1 million employees in the United States and about 300,000 overseas. More than 90 percent have health insurance, Williams said, 50 percent through the company and the rest through spouses and other sources. Of those participating in the company's plan, 40 percent had no medical insurance when they were hired, she said. "These are people who would've fallen through the cracks," she said. Kerry's visit to Russound, which designs and installs home audiovisual systems, came on the first day of a five-day swing through New Hampshire focusing on health care. The company pays two-thirds of the cost of insuring 63 of its 72 workers, the rest are covered under their spouses' plans. Premiums have increased an average of 19 percent a year in the last four years. Last year's total was $235,866. Kerry's $80 billion plan would allow others to buy into the health care plan that covers Congress and would expand government programs for children and the poor. The centerpiece is a proposal to have the federal government pick up the cost of catastrophic care, which would lower premiums by $1,000 per policy. "That's real money in your pockets," he told Russound employees. Mariotti, the company's chief financial officer, called Kerry's ideas "tremendous." Though she is a Republican who voted for President Bush in 2000, Mariotti said Kerry will get her vote in the New Hampshire primary, tentatively set for Jan. 27. Bush's handling of Iraq was the turning point, she said. "We're no longer at war, yet we're losing more men," she said. theunionleader.com