Wal-Mart Opposes Health Insurance for Workers - Gives an Additional $500,000

After years of waging its political wars almost exclusively on the local level, Wal-Mart is spending aggressively this election in support of 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 to California races so far this year - well beyond any previous sum the company has spent here in one year. The Bentonville, Ark.-based company announced Tuesday 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 its political activity in California is a direct result of the mounting attacks the company faces in the state by labor unions and other critics. "Many of our opponents are trying to use the political system to stop our growth," said Bob McAdam, Wal-Mart's vice president of corporate affairs. "And we are not going to sit back and take it without responding. We will respond." [more]