Walmart Buys Politicians & Policy--New Report
P R E S S * R E L E A S E * * WALMART WARNING, 03.06.2011 17:53
From: Southern Oregon Jobs with Justice
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 3, 2011
Contacts: Shelley Talbott 
Shelley.Talbott@UFCW555.com 1-800-452-8329 ext 6317; Wes Brain, brain@mind.net 541-482-6988; Jason Houk houk@kskq.org 541-292-1168; Ivend Holen, idholen@ccountry.net 541-779-5392
Southern Oregon Jobs with Justice urges Walmart to be transparent about its political and charitable giving. New political reports shows difference between what Walmart says and where it gives.
Medford, Oregon— In response to new research released this week by Walmart Watch about the company’s political contributions, elected officials have been asked to urge Walmart to be transparent about its political and charitable giving. A vote on how political contributions are disclosed is expected at today’s annual shareholders’ meeting.
This Medford Walmart warning has a history. State Representative Peter Buckley’s concerns about Walmart expanding with a South Medford supercenter go back to 2005 with this video warning 
http://rogueimc.org/media/2005/11/5580.mov (11-10-05 press conference Central Point, OR).
As Walmart seeks to soften its image in order to grow its business in urban communities such as Medford, the report “What’s Right: Walmart’s Words vs. Walmart’s Political Priorities,” calls into question the image Walmart is attempting to portray to communities such as ours.
The report’s primary finding show:
• Walmart’s PAC and the Walton family continue to give overwhelmingly to Republicans.
• Democrats supported by Walmart were much more likely to oppose key elements of President Obama’s legislative agenda.
• The candidates that Walmart supports often vote against interests that Walmart claims to endorse like health care reform and environmental protections.
SOJwJ Board Member Jason Houk sums it up this way: “It doesn’t serve Medford to send our money to Arkansas so Walmart can use it to fund politicians who vote against our citizens.”
This Medford Walmart warning has a history. State Representative Peter Buckley’s concerns about Walmart expanding with a South Medford supercenter go back to 2005 with this video warning http://rogueimc.org/media/2005/11/5580.mov (11-10-05 press conference Central Point, OR).
The report examines information from available public records on Walmart’s political contributions. It shows how the company and members of the Walton family, who own more than 48% of the company, have wielded their resources to undermine the interests of Walmart’s core customers and the associates who work in its stores.
The report also points out that Walmart does not disclose political giving it does through the Chamber of Commerce and other trade industry groups, making it impossible to fully know the scope of the company’s political influence. Many leading companies—such as Hewlett Packard, Microsoft, and Merck—have embraced high standards for transparency in their political giving, according to the Center for Political Accountability.
Full report at http://walmartwatch.org/files/2011/06/WW-Walmart-Contributions-Report1.pdf
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Southern Oregon Jobs with Justice brings together labor unions, religious congregations, student groups and community organizations to improve working peoples’ standard of living, job security and their right to organize.
Southern Oregon Jobs with Justice
298 Garfield Street
Ashland, Oregon 97520
541-482-6988
http://www.sojwj.org
