Not all Merry in Maryland...

I'm sure I've just coined an original headline that has never been used before...

...anyway, the Maryland legislature is in the process of trying to pass a bill that would require any business in the state who employs over 10,000 employees to spend at least 8 per cent of their payroll dollars on health care for employees. If it ever falls under 8 per cent, the remaining amount MUST be submit to the State of Maryland. It's basically the "Anti-Walmart" Law...

This is bad legislation. If you want the guarantee health care to Americans, then get the support for a law that establishes it. To instead ORDER a company's outlays of it's PRIVATE revenue (private revenue = unrelated to taxes, unemployment insurance, etc) is entirely against the spirit of capitalism in our country. Plus, if the company doesn't reach 8 per cent, instead of that money going directly to employees of that company (which is who this is supposed to help), the GOVERNMENT will collect it. Great solution.

Finally, it discriminates against employees who work for companies with UNDER 10,000 employees. They are not guaranteed the same 8% of health care benefits that those who work for over 10,000 employee companies are. It's the exact same theory as instituting a minimum wage of $6.75 for companies over 10,000 employees and $6.25 for companies under $6.25. Actually, if you multiply $6.25 times 8 percent, that's exactly what you would get. I am so not a constitutional scholar, but isn't that the very definition of unconstitutional?

There are so many good, valid ways to voice concerns of big business and there are many legitimate laws that can be passed placing restrictions on large companies (I'm not saying I would agree with them, just that they exist). This, however, is just plain the wrong way to go about it.