Wal-Mart – the nation’s largest retailer – has formed a coalition with labor unions and other larger corporations to call for quality affordable health coverage for all Americans by 2012. The coalition includes AT&T, Intel, Kelly Services, the Service Employees International Union and the Communications Workers of America. We get analysis from Center for American Progress Senior Fellow Jeanne Lambrew and Healthcare-NOW! National Coordinator Marilyn Clement. [includes rush transcript]

Wal-Mart – the nation’s largest retailer – has formed a coalition with labor unions and other larger corporations to call for quality affordable health coverage for all Americans by 2012. The coalition includes AT&T, Intel, Kelly Services, the Service Employees International Union and the Communications Workers of America. Three public policy groups are also backing the campaign, dubbed Better Health Care Together. Wal-Mart’s CEO Lee Scott said “Our current system hurts America’s competitiveness and leaves too many people uninsured.”

• Service Employees International Union president Andrew Stern.

We’re joined now by two guests:

• Jeanne Lambrew. Senior fellow at the Center for American Progress and an associate professor at George Washington University where she teaches health policy and conducts policy-relevant research on the uninsured, Medicaid, Medicare, and long-term care.
• Marilyn Clement. National Coordinator of Healthcare-NOW!