After years of waging its political wars almost exclusively on the local level, Wal-Mart Stores Inc. is spending aggressively this election in support of favored statewide candidates and ballot measures including donations to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and the state Republican Party. The world's largest corporation, which once had a tradition of trying to stay out of politics, has given more than $2.4 million on California races so far this year well beyond any previous sum the company has spent here in one year. And Tuesday, the Bentonville, Ark.-based company announced it would donate an additional $500,000 to the opponents of Proposition 72, a measure that will require employers to provide basic health insurance to workers. Wal-Mart representatives said the escalation of political activity in California is a direct result of mounting attacks the company faces from labor unions and other critics.

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NamNews - Wednesday 27th October 2004

 

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