Healthcare fairness for NY...

I'm sure Gov. Pataki is glad he has health coverage after his recent medical problems, while 2.8 million New Yorkers lack health insurance.

Many "big box retailers" such as Wal-Mart refuse to provide this essential service to their employees. Instead they cut costs and boost their profits by sending their employees to apply for programs like Medicaid and Family Health Plus, sending the bill (over $1 billion to pay for Medicaid and emergency room care) to the rest of the working families of NY.

Pataki callously proposes simply barring these people from getting access to the programs, but New York can do better.

The progressive pioneers in SEIU and the Working Families Party have proposed these companies pay their fair share. The Fair Share for Health Care Act requires these retail giants to spend at least $3 per hour for health benefits for their workforce, pulling the burden off the backs of the New York taxpayer and putting it where it belongs.