WFP Fires Back
Pointing out that the Employment Policies Institute is a think tank funded by the restaurant industry, the Working Families Party has sent me a response to this item. In brief, here it is directly from their release:
1. Rhetoric: The Fair Share for Health Care bill will cost nearly 100,000 jobs.
Reality: This is exactly the argument that was made about minimum wage; it wasn't true then, and it's not true now...
2. Rhetoric: Fair Share for Health Care will not cover 83% of New York's uninsured.
Reality: The legislation does not purport to be a comprehensive solution to the crisis of New York’s uninsured. But it is a significant and practical first step that will cover more than 400,000 New Yorkers who work at large firms but are currently uninsured, as well as another 193,000 who work for large firms but receive health care through Medicaid and Family Health Plus.
3. Rhetoric: The bill makes health care more expensive for New York employers.
Reality: The bill makes health care less expensive for employers already providing decent, affordable benefits...
4. Rhetoric: The Fair Share bill will hurt New York's business climate.
Reality: The Fair Share bill will benefit New York businesses by:
- Reducing the burden on state and local taxpayers by nearly $1 billion annually as by shifting health care costs away from taxpayer-subsidized programs like Medicaid and back to employers who have tried to game the system by shifting these costs.
- Providing a level playing field for responsible local businesses that struggle to compete with multi-billion dollar corporations like Wal-Mart that do not offer decent, affordable benefits to their workers.
- Reducing the cost of health care for responsible employers.
Tuesday, May 23, 2006
Follow the Leader 5/23/2006
Follow the Leader 5/23/2006
Not So Fair Share
The Employment Policies Institute is taking issue with the "Fair Share for Health Care" Act, which has become the agenda centerpiece of the Working Families Party and is being discussed on the floor of the Assembly today. Read their report here.
EPI's report claims that the bill would cost State businesses $9.2 billion, destroy 100,000 jobs and ignore 83 percent of those who are currently uninsured anyway.
"Proponents of this measure are actually trying to claim that increased labor costs will create more jobs," said Mike Flynn, EPI's director of legislative affairs. "As far as the laws of economics go, this is tantamount to saying water runs uphill."
Tuesday, May 16, 2006
Follow the Leader 5/16/2006
If You Really Care...
...about the "Fair Share for Health Care" Act, the Working Families Party will pay you to help pass it.
Thursday, May 11, 2006
Follow the Leader 5/11/2006
Citizen Feedback
The Working Families Party is allowing interested parties to post on their Web site why they support the Fair Share for Health Care Act. Some highlights:
"The purpose of legislation is justice."
"My 19 year old Grandson is living alone and supporting himself. He is loosing all his teeth and has indured numerous illnesses without a Doctor's visit. He needs some kind of health care as do so many in the country without it."
"Admittedly this is not the answer to all health care problems, but it is a solid, just and necessary step along the way to universal health care."
"Corporations need to take care of their workers and not continue to pass on these expenses to the taxpayer! Add some pennies to your prices and deduct some from your profits - do the right thing!"
"This bill is a win-win for us. If large outside chains decide to leave rather than comply, smaller local businesses will be able to move into the void."
"If you can offer free health care to non-citizens then you MUST take care of our own citizens!!! Send the illegal aliens home and the money that is saved could pay for our own citizens. That is if the big tax cuts don't backrupt us first."
Wednesday, May 3, 2006
Follow the Leader 5/3/2006
WFP For Perkins
The Harlem branch of the Working Families Party has endorsed Bill Perkins to succeed David Paterson in the State Senate.
"He’s a proven legislator who has been fearless in tackling the problems our community faces," said WFP leader Ramona McFarlan.
