Buying Influence In Missouri

This is right from Wal-Mart’s government affairs guru Leslie Dach’s playbook on “How to Appear Nonpartisan and Back a Winner.”

Jake Wagman pointed out on the St. Louis Post-Dispatch’s Political Fix blog yesterday, Wal-Mart ponied up $10,000 for governor-elect Jay Nixon – two days after he won Tuesday’s election. Repeat: after he won. 

Given that Wal-Mart has avoided paying hundreds of thousands of dollars in property taxes in Missouri and no doubt violated every labor law in existence - under the current administration’s oversight - it’s easy to understand why Wal-Mart would want to attempt to curry favor with the state’s new governor. Sure, political contributions often come into campaigns after elections for one reason or another, but Wal-Mart is clearly trying to send a message and buy a little access as it faces the changes that will come with new administrations in Missouri and nationally.  As Wal-Mart girds for a fight over EFCA and undoubtedly a host of other issues, Lee Scott and the Walton family are understandably nervous and willing to drop a few bucks here, there and everywhere to try to keep the status quo. 

Look for more on the Walton family influence here. 

Posted by Media Team on Wednesday, November 12, 2008

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