Sanders introduces Stop BEZOS Act to make businesses pay for social assistance programs



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Sanders introduced the bill Wednesday, according to which they named the law on subsidies to zeroing employers, or BEZOS Stop.

"At a time of high income and wealth inequality, when the richest 3 people in America have more wealth than the bottom 50% and 52% of all new incomes are at the top, billionaires who own some of America's largest and most profitable companies, "Sanders said in a statement.

Sanders quoted a report from the non-profit New Food Economy Association, suggesting that one-third of Amazon's Arizona employees – and thousands of other states – rely on the good ones. d & # 39; diet.

Amazon, said the senator, paid half his staff only $ 28,500 a year, or $ 13.67 at the hour. Many other workers, he added, were hired through subcontractors, who could pay less.

"In other words, the richest person in the world is advertising jobs that pay so low wages that they have to receive public support and be subsidized by the middle class of that country. It's wrong. It must change, "he said.

Amazon has disputed these statistics in an article published in August on the blog in response to Sanders' previous accusations.

"Senator Sanders continues to spread misleading statements about pay and benefits," the company wrote, noting that many of the food aid recipients were employees who worked briefly for Amazon or chose to work part-time. .

"We encourage anyone to compare our compensation and benefits to other retailers," the company said.

"Taxpayers should not subsidize billions of companies with their salaries," he said. "If you go shopping, you should be able to do your shopping."

The legislation would require companies with more than 500 employees to repay the government for social assistance programs that support their low-wage employees, such as food stamps, Medicaid and housing subsidies.

The government spends more than $ 150 billion a year on programs to help low-wage workers, Sanders said, citing a study from the University of California.

The quarrel between Sanders and Amazon escalated last week as the e-commerce giant pushed back after the senator said he wanted a special tax on Amazon and other big companies whose employees are collecting good benefits. food.

The online sales giant said it offered workers compensation and competitive advantages and said it had spoken with Sanders about visiting one of its distribution centers.

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