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Senator Bernie Sanders To Introduce Bill Requiring Large Corporations To Pay For Federal Assistance Programs


Next week, Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders is set to introduce legislation which would require large employers such as Walmart, Amazon, and McDonald's to fully cover the cost of food stamps, public housing, Medicaid, and other federal assistance programs that their employees receive.  Senator Sanders has stated that the goal is to force these large employers to pay their employees a living wage and cut back on the nearly $150 billion in taxpayer dollars that go toward funding these federal programs every year.

As for the specifics, a 100% tax on government benefits received would be imposed on government benefits received by workers at companies with 500 or more employees.  For instance, if a Walmart employee received $500 in food stamps, Walmart would be taxed $500.

To call this proposed legislation groundbreaking would be an understatement.  I would expect that Senator Sanders, an Independent that caucuses with Democrats, is going to face an uphill battle getting this one off the ground.  With Washington being extremely partisan in recent years, unless Democrats can gain control of Congress during midterms this year, I find it hard to believe that Republicans (who control the committees in Congress and can dictate what makes it to the floor for a vote) will make this bill a priority.  Nevertheless, I highlight this one in particular given the potentially monumental impact it could have on large scale employers.


For additional information:  http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-bernie-sanders-food-stamps-20180824-story.html

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