Wall St Journal Political Diary
http://www.opinionjournal.com/politicaldiary/
The political targeting of Wal-Mart went national last week when congressional Democrats introduced legislation that would force states to report the names of companies with 50 or more employees who receive Medicaid. The goal is to pressure businesses into offering more health benefits by spotlighting how many of their workers get public assistance. . .
Sponsors . . .include Senators Ted Kennedy of Massachusetts, Jon Corzine of New Jersey and New York Representative Anthony Weiner. . . .'Every worker in America is paying part of their taxes to pay for Wal-Mart,' said Mr. Kennedy. The company's employee health benefits represent 'the ultimate in turning your back on responsibility to society,' added Mr. Corzine. The senators were speaking at a news conference orchestrated by Joe Hansen of the United Food and Commercial Workers Union. Which brings us to what's really going on here.
Democrats know that picking on Wal-Mart won't fix the nation's health care problem, but it will please their Big Labor benefactors who have been stymied in their efforts to organize Wal-Mart employees. It's in Mr. Hansen's interest to call public attention to perceived worker unfairness and hope employees come to think their lot will improve under a union. In the meantime, if you can't join them, beat them. Union officials hope these legislative efforts will drive up labor costs for Wal-Mart to levels equal that of unionized retailers, all the better to protect union jobs and punish a big company that refuses to play
