Rather than mandate a new program, she wants information.
She wants to know just how many employees at large companies rely on state-supported programs for health insurance.
She wants to receive a monthly report with the data, sorted by employer type.
Then, she wants to use the information to make proposals down the road, as necessary. "Maine taxpayers bear the cost of health care for workers of certain employers, rather than having those costs borne by those employers," Edmonds said Wednesday as she testified in support of her bill. "This increases the cost of public health programs and creates inequities and unfair competition among employers."
Edmonds, D-Freeport, submitted a bill to the Health and Human Services Committee that requires the state Department of Health and Human Services to compile information each month on the types of employment, types of employers, wages and whether the jobs are part time or full time.
It also seeks information on the health care expenditures, by percentage, from businesses that employ more than 1,000 people i n Maine.
While the bill was supported by several labor unions, it was opposed by business organizations such as the Maine State Chamber of Commerce, the National Federation of Independent Business and the Maine Merchants Association.
"There doesn't seem to be a recognition that employers, like employees, are struggling to pay for health care," said Peter Gore, who spoke on behalf of the Maine State Chamber of Commerce. Gore said it's not fair to judge businesses based on whether their employees receive state care, which can be awarded to the disabled and elderly.
Jim McGregor of the Maine Merchants Association said he believes the bill is a precursor to future legislation that would require a "financial mandate."
"Most businesses in Maine are in no better shape to fund the (Medicaid) expansion than the government," he said.
Josh Smith, 23, of Mount Vernon described for lawmakers what it was like for him and his co-workers at the Augusta Wal-M art Supercenter. Smith, who worked part time until he quit a few weeks ago, said he wasn't eligible for health insurance.
"When I breached the topic with co-workers of whether they were covered by the company's insurance, the question was shrugged off as absurd since they too were ineligible or could not afford the plan," he said. "Those who did receive coverage were well aware of the problems with the insurance, but did not have any other option."
Local lawmakers Rep. Marilyn Canavan, D-Waterville, and Rep. Arthur Lerman, D-Augusta, described the bill as a small step toward addressing the problem of inadequate or expensive health care coverage.
"So many of my constituents are small businesses and they struggle to pay for health insurance for their employees," Canavan said. "They have to compete with these large companies as well. They are caught in a vice."
And although the bill has become known as the "Wal-Mart bill," Edmonds said she did not want to pick on one particular business. The monthly reports would not specify companies, but rather employer types to avoid picking on certain businesses.
Rep. Richard Burns, D-Berwick, said the problem is a national one.
"The shame shouldn't be to the industry," he said. "The shame is to us as a state and a nation."
