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Page 2 of 2 <br /> What does this mean for government? It means that in most states the local <br /> government is the largest insurer of Wal-Mart employees. <br /> <br /> The cost to the Federal Government for assistance for Wal-Mart employees is <br /> estimated to total $2.5 billion in 2004. <br /> One 200-employee Wal-Mart store may cost federal taxpayers $420,750 per year. This cost <br /> comes from the following, on average: <br /> o $36,000 a year for free and reduced lunches for just 50 qualifying Wal-Mart <br /> families. <br /> o $42,000 a year for low-income housing assistance. <br /> o $125,000 a year for federal tax credits and deductions for low-income families. <br /> o $100,000 a year for the additional expenses for programs for students. <br /> o $108,000 a year for the additional federal health care costs of moving into state <br /> children's health insurance programs (S-CHIP) <br /> o $9,750 a year for the additional costs for low-income energy assistance. <br /> Wal-Marts do not create economic development they simply replace the current retail market <br /> with low wage and limited benefit jobs that require government to supplement Wal-Mart <br /> employee's income. <br /> Rich Hedges <br /> Hilo <br /> 2/5/2007 <br /> <br />