May 10, 2007

Roundtable on health care

Safeway chairman Steve Burd is leading his merry band of business execs for universial health care into the governor's office this morning, where they will hold a "roundtable discussion" on the issue with Schwarzenegger and legislative leaders. The discussion won't last long, barely long enough for a photo-op and a how-do-you-do. Then it's out front of the Capitol for a press conference 30 minutes later. Burd unveiled his coalition Monday in DC and could play a key role in building broader support for a plan that includes an employer mandate or a tax on business to provide subsidies for those who can't afford coverage. When Schwarzenegger laid out his plan earlier this year, Burd said the proposed 4 percent fee on companies that don't provide care wasn't high enough.

His company provides coverage to most of its employees yet competes with firms -- namely Wal-Mart -- that spend less. Getting the government to require his competitors to do what he does would help his bottom line. Speaking of bottom lines, maybe Burd can get either Fabian Nunez or Don Perata to tell him how much their pay-or-play plans would cost business. So far, those lines in their bills remain blanks.

Posted by dweintraub on May 10, 2007 6:32 AM