Walmart Workers Cost Taxpayers $6.2 Billion In Public Assistance

[LongTomH]

From Forbes: Report: Walmart Workers Cost Taxpayers $6.2 Billion In Public Assistance:

Walmart's low-wage workers cost U.S. taxpayers an estimated $6.2 billion in public assistance including food stamps, Medicaid and subsidized housing, according to a report published to coincide with Tax Day, April 15.

Americans for Tax Fairness, a coalition of 400 national and state-level progressive groups, made this estimate using data from a 2013 study by Democratic Staff of the U.S. Committee on Education and the Workforce.

"The study estimated the cost to Wisconsin’s taxpayers of Walmart’s low wages and benefits, which often force workers to rely on various public assistance programs," reads the report, available in full here.

"It found that a single Walmart Supercenter cost taxpayers between $904,542 and $1.75 million per year, or between $3,015 and $5,815 on average for each of 300 workers."

Americans for Tax Fairness then took the mid-point of that range ($4,415) and multiplied it by Walmart’s approximately 1.4 million workers to come up with an estimate of the overall taxpayers' bill for the Bentonville, Ark.-based big box giant's staffers.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

1. This should sicken EVERY decent American, regardless of political persuasion.

Defending Walmart is indefensible!! Talk about deplorable!!

[Wellstone ruled]

2. And nothing stops this from happening over and over again.

[Ohiogal]

3. Their defenders will just say

that those jobs are "entry-level" and not meant to support a family. And that if you want a good paying job, go to college and fall into soul-crushing debt like a good little American!

[More_Cowbell]

4. And to that I say....

Walmart (or anyone) paying "entry-level pay" should be able to hire only teenagers.

Now, those employers get the benefit of paying "entry-level pay" but not having to work with "entry-level employees."

[TexasBushwhacker]

9. And they can't hire only teenagers

because they are open during the day. Some are open 24 hours. So who would work the early mornings and overnight shifts? Fast food places have the same issues. Who's going to work mornings, early afternoons and graveyard shifts? NOT TEENAGERS.

[SunSeeker]

5. K & R for exposure.

[BigmanPigman]

6. I have never shopped at a Walmart and have

boycotted/picketed their store every Black Friday too. Their workers are treated as badly as teachers are. What ever happened to a living wage in this capitalist society?

[appalachiablue]

7. Billionaire grifters, first rate. I haven't ever shopped there and never will.

K & R Thanks Tom

[TheBlackAdder]

8. Those advantages are the primary reason why the likes of Amazon & Wal*Mart crush local competition.

[raccoon]

10. Do you begrudge the Walton heirs a measly $6.2 billion?

Need I add

[appalachiablue]

11. The audacity!