Wal-Mart in New Hampshire

Maryland isn't the only state going after Wal-Mart. New Hampshire has joined the fray. Their law is much more likely to hit another company as they are mandating a 10.5% outlay for health benefits for companies employing 1500 New Hampsireites. The New Hampshire Union Leader opposes this legislation.

The bill would force companies with 1,500 or more employees to spend on employee health insurance an amount equal to at least 10.5 percent of their payroll. If they don't, they would have to pay the difference into a state health insurance fund.
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The legislation really is about three things: 1) hurting the left's favorite bogeyman; 2) moving closer to universal health care; and 3) creating "living" wages.

Activists cannot get the votes for creating universal state health care, so they are trying to use the law to force corporations to provide it themselves.

They also cannot get the votes to pass "living wage" laws, so they are trying to make companies raise employee compensation by paying more for health care.

Then they added this little nugget, similar to my "When in doubt, trust capitalism" saying:

It also makes the terrible mistake of substituting the judgment of individuals in the marketplace — corporate executives, employees and customers — for the judgment of lawmakers. That is rarely a good idea, and this bill is no exception.