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New Website From Wal-Mart Watch Examines Walton Family Influence

Wal-Mart Watch has launched a new website - http://www.waltoninfluence.com - which analyzes and tracks the Walton family’s and Wal-Mart’s growing influence on American politics.

Although Sam Walton believed his company should stay out of politics and stick to retailing, Wal-Mart’s strategy changed immensely after his death. From 1999 to 2007, Wal-Mart’s lobbying expenditures for outside firms increased 7425%. Although Wal-Mart attempts to tout its bipartisanship, the Wal-Mart PAC has given the vast majority of its over $7.5 million in the past decade to the Republican Party and other conservative groups.

With more than $12 billion in profits last year, Wal-Mart is the biggest and arguably most powerful corporation in America. Sam Walton’s heirs, the majority owners of the company, are worth over $100 billion - making them the wealthiest and certainly one of the most influential families in America.

During the past year, Wal-Mart Watch conducted an analysis of public lobbying and political contribution records for the Walton family and Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., in order to determine how this influence is used to affect politics and policy. The conclusion is clear: Wal-Mart and the Walton family spend millions of dollars every year to fund an extreme right wing corporate agenda that is often directly at odds with the interests of Wal-Mart’s workers and shoppers.

The new website features data on Wal-Mart’s lobbying compiled by Wal-Mart Watch and complete data on Wal-Mart and the Walton family’s political contributions pulled from opensecrets.org and followthemoney.org.

The full impact of the Walton family’s and Wal-Mart’s political giving is difficult to determine because they hide behind various organizations, trade groups and associations. However, from what is transparent, it is clear that the Waltons do not have the best interest of Wal-Mart workers or many of their customers in mind when exerting their political influence.

For instance, Wal-Mart has lobbied against increased port security and Country of Origin Labeling (COOL) on food products, as well as the Patients Bill of Rights. Additionally, despite the company’s so-called “sustainability” campaign, it opposed carbon offset guidelines - which most environmentalists view as necessary to fighting global warming. Meanwhile, the Walton family has spent tens of millions of dollars supporting issues like social security privatization, the repeal of the estate tax, and a stunning $48 million in 2006 alone to fund the school vouchers and charter schools movement.

“This new website allows anyone to take a good look at Wal-Mart’s role in American politics,” said Wal-Mart Watch Executive Director David Nassar. “The average Wal-Mart shopper would likely be surprised by the Walton family’s right wing political agenda, which is not in the best interest of either Wal-Mart workers or many of Wal-Mart’s customers. We hope the information will be helpful to a growing group of citizens who are increasingly concerned about the political influence of Wal-Mart and the family behind it.”

Posted by Media Team on Friday, October 10, 2008

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COMMENTS

I am not a big fan of Sam Walton as he had his problems too. But he is probably rolling over in his grave at what his company has become.
Sam NEVER would have spent all this money on advertising. He NEVER ADVERTISED. He just saturated an area with Wal-Mart’s and let his customers advertise for him by their word of mouth. Then he would saturate another area with Wal-Mart’s and begin the process all over again. Even though I am not a fan of Sam’s he was a smart businessman.
But now Wal-Mart has to advertise to TRY AND IMPROVE THEIR REPUTATION WHICH STINKS!! Sam would not be pleased with that! And how about all the money their kids have. If it weren’t for Sam they’d have nothing. And what do they do with their millions? Well they sure don’t spend it on their employees do they?
Wal-Mart has to be involved in politics. If they weren’t some bill would pass that might hurt their business. Imagine what would happen if the Sherman Anti-Trust bill got some teeth back into it? Wal-Mart WOULD BE TAKEN TO COURT HUNDRDEDS OF TIMES FOR BEING A MONOPOLY! And of course we can’t have that--can we?

Jane in N.Y. in
Saturday, October 11 at 09:45 AM

I can understand that people want to influence others
around them.

12 Billion dollars in net profits can buy a lot of
influence.

That is almost too much influence.

Rob in Surfside Beach, SC
Saturday, October 11 at 10:47 AM

Rob: Almost? What’s YOUR idea of TOO much,Rob?

ddrb in
Saturday, October 11 at 04:02 PM

It’s not how much money they have, it’s how they got it and what they’re doing with it. The Rockerfellers and Kennedys have spent generations atoning for the fact their fortures were amassed by robber barons.

Like him or not, Sam was a piece of work. His kids are just that. Greedy rich kids. Do you think Alice will be remembered for her museum?

What’s good for Wal-Mart is BAD for America!

Ken V in Texas
Sunday, October 12 at 05:57 AM

Are you people still whining about the Waltons? The Waltons don’t run Wal-Mart and they are not the majority owners. With that in mind, I want any of you who hold mutual funds, IRAs, 401k’s, etc. to dip into your personal assets and transfer most of your wealth to the employees of the companies you are invested in.

If you do not do this, you are hypocrites of the worst kind.

Nick in PA
Sunday, October 12 at 03:03 PM

...they are not the majority owners.

Pray tell, Nick. Have the Waltons recently divested themselves of WMT?

I want any of you who hold mutual funds, IRAs, 401k’s, etc. to”...stop crying and come in from that ledge..

“There are a lot of issues here, but what they add up to is the end of the age of Wal-Mart,” contends Richard Hastings, a senior analyst for the retail rating agency Bernard Sands. “The glory days are over.”

Ken V in Texas
Sunday, October 12 at 06:03 PM

The Waltons hold less than 39% of the company. They do not hold majority control. End of story.

The Age of Wal-Mart is over? Wal-Mart has seen a huge growth in sales and profits. Other retailers have declined. Wal-Mart hits record sales and profits year after year. It’s total sales and profits are larger than the total sales and profits of Costco, Target, Sears/K-Mart, SuperValu, Safeway and Kroger.

Every Wal-Mart I’ve been in these last months has been very busy. I shop at my Wal-Mart late at night and they have 8 cashiers with lines backed up.

Yeah, Wal-Mart is dead....

Nick in PA
Sunday, October 12 at 08:47 PM

I have been away for a while Who let the dogs in

The Waltons hold less than 39% of the company. They do not hold majority control. End of story. What???? were did you get this? Not according to the SEC

WallStreet in
Sunday, October 12 at 11:22 PM

Perhaps Nick Will Return...

after this year’s holiday sales have been rung up. I’m sure Someone in USA is going to need a lot of help to justify and defend what is bound to be a less than banner year for WalMart.

ScrewedbyWalMart in Anytown, America
Monday, October 13 at 05:43 AM

I’m sure Someone in USA is going to need a lot of help to justify and defend what is bound to be a less than banner year for WalMart.

Now, you’re just letting your passions overrule the obvious—good thing you’re not the betting type…

While WM may or may not match last year’s sales, they will most definitely “lead the retail pack” in ‘08.

bbrd in
Monday, October 13 at 03:55 PM

I’m sure Someone in USA is going to need a lot of help to justify and defend what is bound to be a less than banner year for WalMart.

Now, you’re just letting your passions overrule the obvious—good thing you’re not the betting type…

While WM may or may not match last year’s sales, they will most definitely “lead the retail pack” in ‘08.

bbrd in
Monday, October 13 at 03:55 PM

I’m sure Someone in USA is going to need a lot of help to justify and defend what is bound to be a less than banner year for WalMart.

Now, you’re just letting your passions overrule the obvious—good thing you’re not the betting type…

While WM may or may not match last year’s sales, they will most definitely “lead the retail pack” in ‘08.