U.S. Appeals Court Upholds Dismissal of Maryland’s Wal-Mart Mandate

January 18, 2007

  • January 18, 2007 at 9:59 am
    Ray Balaamababa says:
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    Where\’s their concern for customer health? Right after the elections I was depressed and I was in Wal-Mart buying some necessities including a large bag of dog chow and was in line to check out. There was a real know-it-all woman behind me, talking to everyone about everything. The woman behind me asked if I had a dog; I tried to be polite, but she continued to pry, and I was feeling a bit crabby so on impulse, I told her no, I was starting the dog food diet again (brand name withheld, but one of the namebrands), although I probably shouldn\’t because I ended up in the hospital last time, but that I\’d lost 50 pounds before I awakened in an intensive care unit with tubes coming out of most of my body and IV\’s in both arms. Her eyes about bugged out of her head.

    I went on and on with the bogus diet story and she was totally buying it. I told her that it was an easy, inexpensive diet and that the way it works is to load your pockets or purse with nuggets and simply eat one or two every time you feel hungry. The package said the food is nutritionally complete so I was going to try it again.

    I have to mention here that practically everyone in the line was by now enthralled with my story, particularly a tall guy behind her.

    Horrified, she asked if something in the dog food had poisoned me and was that why I ended up in the hospital.

    I said no…..I\’d been sitting in the street licking my butt when a car hit me.

  • January 18, 2007 at 10:48 am
    Mjolnir says:
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    …since Wal~Mart is the embodiment of corporate evil. This decision benefits Wal~Mart, and we all know that what\’s good for Wal~Mart is bad for America.

    Obviously, if the minimum wage employees Wal~Mart hires are incapable of getting an education and then finding a better job then Wal~Mart must be legally forced to give them better benefits.

    Clearly, everybody deserves top-of-the-line health insurance, even people too incompetent to take advantage of federal education grants, welfare, and a tight job market.

    Duh.

  • January 18, 2007 at 11:34 am
    Chad says:
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    It is not that the decision is wrong. I agree that Wal-Mart should be forced to provide better health care coverage. But you can\’t have a federal law with competing/overwriting state laws. What needs to happen is that ERISA needs to be changed to force large coporations that operate on a national level to provide coverage consistant with the areas in which they conduct business.

  • January 18, 2007 at 11:40 am
    Mjolnir says:
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    Please don\’t view this as an attack. I\’m very curious to understand why you think Wal~Mart should have to provide benefits to it\’s employees?

    I haven\’t had the opportunity to hear the \”other side\” of the conversation and I would really appreciate an explanation of your thoughts and beliefs.

    I may attack you later, but for right now I want to listen. :D

  • January 18, 2007 at 12:36 pm
    AlstonCPCU says:
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    Socialism loses again.

  • January 18, 2007 at 12:47 pm
    Bulldogg says:
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    GOD bless these Judges!!! The judiciary has finally got something correct.

    This legislation was nothing more than extortion by the State of Maryland. Give everyone benefits or give us your money. I think that the MD Legislature should be investigated under RICO.

  • January 18, 2007 at 12:52 pm
    Compman says:
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    I am curious to hear Chad\’s reasoning why Walmart should be forced to provide health benefits as well.

  • January 18, 2007 at 1:07 am
    Observer says:
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    I just read a study that showed that over 90% of Walmart employees do have health insurance either through Walmart or a spouse. Although 10% of their employees is still a large number, it doesn\’t paint them to be a member of the dark side of \”The Force\”.

  • January 18, 2007 at 1:11 am
    Scott says:
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    The legislature in Maryland will try again and hopefully fail again. If Walmart employees wanted heath care then they should have asked for it as part of their compensation package prior to employment. I don’t understand why The State has become the champion for Walmart employees, re-negotiating their employment contracts by force of law. Why don’t they stick up for me too? Our benefits stink!

  • January 18, 2007 at 2:22 am
    Bulldogg says:
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    Don\’t make THATt mistake. The state doesn\’t give a rat\’s @$$ about the employees of Wal-Mart as much as it cares to punish Wal-Mart and drive them out of business.

    Look at the legislation itself. It sets the requirements for a corporation so high that only one company qualifies for this extortion ploy. This legislation was specifically targeted at Wal-Mart, it had nothing to do with the 10% of employees who do not qualify or have turned down the benefit package offered by Wal-Mart.

  • January 19, 2007 at 8:00 am
    Bulldogg says:
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    Love that story Ray!!! I have to add that to my all time favorite blog postings…

  • January 21, 2007 at 9:45 am
    Barb says:
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    The Fourth Circuit ruling spells big trouble for Gov. Schwarzenegger\’s big plans for a health care program.

    http://www.AlmostBroken.com
    http://www.BarbClark.org

  • April 4, 2007 at 11:21 am
    Raoul says:
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    um, speaking of poor Joanna, um…she has clients? I\’m assuming she means insurance clients. Based upon her command of issues and facts, it\’s not hard to surmise why she is baffled about things like deductibles; Joanna, if your an insurance agent, I\’m weeping for your poor clients. Please point their way to the ripcord and tell them to pull…Quick!
    Otherwise, the thought of you breaking down and balling all over the paperwork while you explain to your poor client they won\’t be able to afford their \’EQ\’ deductible, wow, I bet you get allot of referrals.

    \”I\’m sorry; I\’ve got tissues; this part, uh, this…I can\’t help it…it\’s your earthquake deductible…I\’m so so so so sorry; it\’s so high and it will be so difficult on you; I\’m so sorry those greedy insurers charge for these things; I\’m alright. No, really, don\’t look concerned; I\’m a professional. Now about the jewel…jew…jewellllry…it\’s only…only…cuv…covered up to 1000; I just can\’t take it; it\’s important stuff and they should just be giving you more coverage. No, don\’t you apologize; I have to sell this stuff for a living; some nites I can\’t sleep. If it wasn\’t for Oprah, well, I don\’t know. But those greedy b\’s should give you more coverage, and for less money. I\’m gonna call them on this one, as soon as I\’m done with you. NO, no, no, don\’t worry about me; I just get emotional when I see people paying for this overpriced crap I sell. Why? Well, I believe I can make a difference; I\’m better than most people because I can see thru the hipocracy of their lies. You know, I won\’t even accept a commission for this sale; I won\’t. It\’s just not right. Well, ok, but don\’t say I didn\’t offer. Now about that wind deductible; oh gosh…I just can\’t take it anymore. No no no no no no…I can\’t believe they\’re doing this…this is unbelievable…now they\’re adding another deductible…that\’s it, I\’m going back to retail; I\’m sick and tired of apologizing for their greediness all the time. Know what I get? Just a few measely percent, buy they get the rest; and you get all these deductibles. Here\’s your policy; good luck reading that thing; I\’ve heard even Trent Lott can\’t figure out his…so don\’t even try.\”



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