Wal-Mart, Union Leaders Collaborate on Health Care

KWAME HOLMAN:

Workers at one of the nation's largest employers and members of one of the biggest U.S. unions became the latest voices behind a growing push for affordable and universal health care coverage.

The retailer Wal-Mart and the Service Employees International Union joined three other businesses and a second major union yesterday in calling for insurance for all Americans by 2012.

Businesses and unions often clash over issues such as employee benefits. Now, health coverage has drawn the two sides closer.

Yesterday's announcement was part of a new wave of initiatives by industry, unions, state governments, and advocacy groups to address the widening gap in health coverage.

Nearly 47 million Americans now lack insurance, according to the most recent census. That's up five million since 2001. And health care premiums have risen 87 percent over the last six years.

Last month, another coalition, including the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, AARP, and other health care advocates proposed expanding health protection for children and poorer Medicare recipients. Ron Pollack of Families USA spoke for the coalition.

RON POLLACK, Families USA:

We decided to rise above our individual principles to achieve a much higher collective principle, so we could do something politically practical to cover America's uninsured.

KWAME HOLMAN:

Several states also have seized on the issue. Last month, California's Republican governor, Arnold Schwarzenegger, launched the largest such effort. He proposed mandating coverage for every resident in the state and would require most businesses to provide it or pay a tax.

GOV. ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER (R), California: With our five-part plan, California will take the lead in what I call health promotion, prevention and wellness.

KWAME HOLMAN:

In Massachusetts last April, then-Governor Mitt Romney enacted legislation to create near-universal coverage in that state. Romney now is a Republican candidate for president in 2008 and is campaigning to adopt a similar program on a national basis.

Health care also has become a key issue for Democrats running for president. At least three candidates have made health care reform centerpieces in their campaigns.

For his part, President Bush, in his State of the Union address, made health care a priority for his remaining two years in office and called on Congress to increase health care tax deductions and promised to work with states to expand coverage.

JIM LEHRER:

And now, some perspective on why all of this is happening. Jeanne Lambrew is a senior fellow at the Center for American Progress, a liberal think-tank that is a member of the newest business-labor alliance announced yesterday. She also teaches health policy at George Washington University.

John Castellani is president of the Business Roundtable, an association of CEOs of leading companies that includes more than 10 million employees combined. His group is part of a different health care alliance that includes the AARP and the Service Workers Union.