We pay for welfare to supplement low wages. How about taxing low wage employers for this?

[eridani]

https://www.facebook.com/RBReich/posts/735400829805849

HOW TO DEAL WITH LOW-WAGE EMPLOYERS. I met yesterday with a former executive of a big corporation who had a good idea. Taxpayers spend at least $55 billion a year on benefits (Medicaid, food stamps, etc.) to working people whose employers don’t pay enough to provide them and their families a decent standard of living. So in effect we’re subsidizing these employers – many of which (like Walmart) are large and profitable. His idea was to tax these employers by that amount. It would be easy enough to do since the IRS and the states have the Social Security numbers of all employees who receive these benefits, and can connect them to their employers. Not only would this “lousy-pay” tax be fair to other companies that pay higher wages and don’t get the subsidy. It would also help replenish federal and state budgets. And it would prod these low-paying corporations to raise wages so their employees don’t have to rely on taxpayer-financed benefits. What do you think?

[raccoon]

1. Works for me! nt

[Uben]

2. I've been saying this for years

Since taxpayers are subsidizing employees at Walmart, McDonalds and other minimum wage paying businesses, why should the American taxpayer be putting money in the Waltons and their ilk's pockets? They have been skimming off of us for way too long and they are mega rich because of it.
Personally, I think there should be a 90% tax on all earnings over $2 million/yr. It's the only way to return us to a fair taxation system and restore equality. It would give them an incentive to share the wealth with their employees and create much better paying jobs.

[tecelote]

3. Tie labor's wages to executive pay and profits.

Why shouldn't employees benefit as a company becomes more profitable?

[JDPriestly]

6. Sorry, but corporate accountants and lawyers get paid to avoid paying taxes under laws

like that. No. The best thing would be to tax all large employers a higher tax rate and then provide an incentive in the form of tax "relief" for employers for each employee to whom they have paid a wage of more than $25 per hournot including benefits or the employer's Social Security payment.

[handmade34]

4. nope

I like fair pay for fair work... eliminate the food stamps and welfare to working people and insist on a livable wage paid...

[Cirque du So-What]

5. How about changing the order of those two events?

The way you state it, the safety net is yanked away *first* and THEN we 'insist' on a livable wage. If you're insisting, you still haven't gotten what you want. How about we get livable wages accomplished before giving away the last vestiges of a safety net?

[handmade34]

7. I am a strong supporter of safety nets...

society is healthier and stronger when we collectively care for each other... anyone though, that contributes to society, works a job, should earn enough money to support themselves, and if that work is for a corporation or business, the pay should come from said business... any other way is merely welfare given to the business

we will always need to help those that are unable, for one reason or another, to function in the private business world... no one here should be left to struggle to survive

[Cirque du So-What]

8. I couldn't agree more

I wish everyone had greater awareness when it comes to the de facto subsidies that corporations receive - all the while paying their employees a pittance for wages.

[Auntie Bush]

9. I've been saying and feeling that all year.

EXCELLENT IDEA! Now we have to do it.