Originally published February 26 2006
Proposed law would require employers to provide workers with quality health insurance
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
The Miami Herald reports that State Sen. Skip Campbell has proposed legislation that would require Florida employers to provide workers with good health insurance.
The state's largest employers should be responsible for providing their workers with decent health insurance, according to a bill announced Tuesday.
Skip Campbell, D-Tamarac, businesses with more than 10,000 employees would be required to spend at least 9 percent of total worker earnings on healthcare or pay the difference to a Fair Share Health Care Fund.
A major business lobbying group, Associated Industries of Florida, immediately denounced the proposal, saying it ``could become one of the costliest taxes ever levied on Florida employers and one that would cause untold damage to the state's efforts to recruit and retain high-paying jobs.''
The proposal, backed by the AFL-CIO of Florida and its 500,000 union members, is similar to one passed last month by the Maryland legislature over a governor's veto.
The union organization said it had data from the state that showed 4,900 Wal-Mart employees and their dependents were using state-financed health plans, including Medicaid and Florida Healthy Kids.
Deborah Dion, political director for the state AFL-CIO, said the group plans to make the bill ''a major campaign,'' with various efforts by its 100,000 South Florida members to persuade legislators, who convene March 7 for the 2006 session.
''We're going to highlight some of the good employers -- and the bad,'' Dion said.
She cited Costco as a shining example.
In a press release, AFL-CIO Florida President Cindy Hall acknowledged getting the bill through the Republican-dominated Legislature would be ''an uphill battle,'' and all major business lobbying groups are likely to oppose it.
Associated Industries warned the bill was a ''wolf in sheep's clothing.'' If the bill were passed, it would lead to more versions, requiring smaller businesses to carry health insurance -- a ''health tax'' burden that would put them at a competitive disadvantage.
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