Budget Hearing 10:15 AM: Should Taxpayers Subsidize Poverty Wages at Large Profitable Corporations?

[Donkees]

Full Committee Hearing
Date: Thursday, February 25, 2021
Time: 10:15 AM
Location: SD 608

Check back for live video of this hearing.

To consider:

“Why Should Taxpayers Subsidize Poverty Wages at Large Profitable Corporations?”

Witnesses:

Mr. Craig Jelinek Chief Executive Officer
Costco

Ms. Cindy Brown Barnes Government Accountability Office
Director of Education, Workforce, and Income Security

Ms. Cynthia Murray Walmart worker Hyattsville, MD

Mr. Terrence Wise McDonald’s worker Kansas City, MO

Additional Witnesses To Be Determined

https://www.budget.senate.gov/hearing-should-taxpayers-subsidize-poverty-wages-at-large-profitable-corporations

[brooklynite]

1. How are taxpayers subsidizing workers at McDonalds, Walmart and Costo?

[SaintLouisBlues]

6. According to the GAO:

https://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-21-45

Millions of American adults who earn low wages rely on federal programs to meet basic needs, such as Medicaid for health care and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program for food.

To learn more about the people who use these programs, we analyzed employment data from 11 states and Census data.

We found:

About 70% worked full time

Most worked for private sector employers in places like restaurants, department stores, and grocery stores

Others worked for state governments, public universities, or nonprofit organizations

Some employers in selected states had thousands of beneficiaries in their workforces

[theneworiginal]

7. Costco pays upwards of $20/hr for their staff.

Walmart puts everyone on part-time so that they don't have to pay insurance. They are eligible for Obamacare/Medicaid. It's their business model and until someone stops them, it's somehow still legal.

[Donkees]

2. Walmart Can Afford to Pay Their Workers a Living Wage.

The owners of Walmart, the Walton Family, are the richest family in the country. They're worth $200 billion. They currently pay at least HALF their workers less than $15 an hour. That is absurd. The richest family in America can afford to pay their workers a living wage.

[Demsrule86]

5. Also, if we can't do the minimum wage in reconciliaton than we can't do it. I have not heard a

final ruling. But it is taking too long...we must get the Covid bill out. Take the minimum wage out and work it separately if need be...the Covid bill is very very important. Sen. Sanders is always talking about Walmart but there are plenty of other companies which suck too. In fact in our area Walmart pays higher than Target. I would like to see a minimum of $15.00 for everyone but it is unlikely to pass unless we can do it in reconciliation. You have to pick the battles you have a shot at winning.

[Donkees]

3. *

[Demsrule86]

4. Of course not. But I have to tell you Walmart now pays more in Ohio than Starbucks. Why isn't

Starbucks there? They pay $9.00 per hour and keep everyone part time so as not to pay benefits. Also, with the slim majority we have, there is nothing we can do now...why not work on things we can accomplish and get the damn covid bill out.