We’ve all seen and head Steve Pagliuca proclaiming that he isn’t beholden’ to any of them special interests. No PAC money from workers or environmental groups says Pags. Can’t be representing those working women and men and their special interests ( you know like an increase in the minimum wage or providing health care coverage for workers).
For nearly seven years, Stephen Pagliuca sat on Burger King’s board of directors, helping to guide the struggling firm back to profitability and generating huge dividends for his firm, Bain Capital, and its two partners in their buyout of the fast-food giant.
But the company’s drive to build profits and expand operations included a push in Washington against raising the federal minimum wage and against forcing companies to provide health insurance for their workers, two causes that Pagliuca, now a candidate in next week’s Senate Democratic primary, champions
Pagliuca declined to be interviewed, but a spokesman, Will Keyser, said that his current views in favor of health care and raising the minimum wage have been long held. Keyser said he would have supported a policy change at Burger King on health care, but the issue never came before the board.
“Had it been raised, Steve would have voiced his view that the company should contribute to the cost of health insurance for its employees,” Keyser said.
Keyser did not directly answer why Pagliuca, despite calling health care a “moral obligation,” never raised the issue himself.
“Among the more important regulatory risks regarding our operations we face are the following: the impact of employer-mandated health care, minimum wage,” states the document, which Pagliuca, as Bain’s representative on the board, signed. The health care bill, in particular, would have a significant drag on the company’s operating results, the firm warned.
“If these bills are enacted into law, our operating results and the operating results of our franchises could be impacted significantly,” the document states.
http://www.boston.com/news/loc…
So instead of Labor PACs who is Pags getting his money from (aside from the blood money he is spending from his own account)?
Pagliuca’s contributor list is top-heavy with money managers, investors, and big accounting firms.
http://www.boston.com/news/loc…
No special interests involved when taking money from his coporate raider pals. The old union songs asks “which side are you on?”.
With Pags the answer is easy – just follow the money.
But did he actually say workers are a special interest? Am I missing it in one of the links?
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p>I could use a bit more on the healthcare bit too. What’s quoted sounds like fairly generic management speak. If he went on to say they should therefore oppose it, I’d be interested to see that.