HEALTH REFORM: Wal-Mart Joins SEIU, CAP to Support Employer Mandate, Serious Cost Control

In the spirit of shared responsibility, Wal-Mart, the nation's largest employer, joined SEIU and the Center for American Progress to support an employer mandate to provide coverage if it is coupled with steps guaranteed to slow the rate of health care cost growth.

The letter to President Obama states clearly, "We are for shared responsibility...We are for an employer mandate which is fair and broad in its coverage." It also recognizes the varying ability of employers to contribute by saying, "Not every business can make the same contribution, but everyone must make some contribution."

Wal-Mart, SEIU, and CAP emphasize that "guaranteeing cost containment is essential," and express their support for one proposal to ensure savings put forth by the Bipartisan Policy Center to "implement pre-specified targets for spending growth and enact a ‘trigger' mechanism that automatically enforces reductions." A similar idea to "hold providers accountable to cost and quality standards at a specified date" was proposed by Health CEOs for Health Reform.

More on this announcement later. But for now it is encouraging to see Wal-Mart not only talking the talk, but walking the walk on shared responsibility for our health care goals.