Suffolk OKs bill of health (law requires employers to pay for health care)

[tk2kewl]

Suffolk OKs bill of health

Lawmakers approve proposal to require non-unionized stores to kick in health care costs for employees

BY CHAU LAM AND EMI ENDO
Newsday staff writers

September 28, 2005

Suffolk lawmakers overwhelmingly passed a bill yesterday that requires large non-unionized grocery retailers to set aside money to pay for their employees' health-care costs.

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The measure, sponsored by Legis. William Lindsay (D-Holbrook), passed 17-1, with more than enough votes to override a veto if Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy chooses not to support it.

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"It's great. It's wonderful. We applaud the legislators for their bipartisan cooperation," said Kris LaGrange, a spokesman for the Long Island Federation of Labor, representing 250,000 union members, including those working in the grocery industry.

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The measure requires companies to allocate at least $3 for every hour an employee worked and the money would go to pay employees' health care costs.

[pennylane100]

1. I hope there is a Walmart Superstore there.

It would be great if a community finally got them to pay their fair share. Most communities that are home to Walmart stores end up subsidizing them when their employees, unable to afford health care, sign up for medicaid for other taxpayer funded programs.

[anotherdrew]

2. great step, but...

a human being's health care should have nothing to do with their employer. This is just too much like, the government saying, "look here, you boys gotta keep your slaves in good shape"


We need national health now. One big risk pool for the whole nation, put every private insurer out of business, they are not needed. (many would actually probably go into the re-insurance business and sell to the one non-profit primary insurer.

[tk2kewl]

3. yeah, that's what has been on my mind a lot lately

I really want to move someplace where there is socialized health care. I would feel much more free if I didn't feel like I needed to keep my job to ensure that my health would not be compromised. I could take some chances, be more entrepreneurial, try a new career or go back to school. So many options open up if you aren't worried about providing health care for yourself and your family.