What’s Right? Walmart’s Words vs. Walmart’s Political Priorities
In this report, Walmart Watch examines the political expenditures of Walmart’s political action committee, Wal-Mart Stores Inc. PAC for Responsible Government, which makes contributions to candidates and other political action committees at multiple levels of government. While companies are not permitted to contribute directly to candidates at the federal level and thus act through political action committees, they are able to contribute in state elections, an opportunity Walmart regularly seizes. Additionally, we analyzed the campaign spending of the Walton family.
Primary findings include:
- Walmart’s PAC and the Walton family continue to give overwhelmingly to the GOP.
- The primary area of increasing support for Democratic Party candidates is among conservative Democrats in the House of Representatives.
- Blue Dog Coalition Democrats and members of the Tea Party are overrepresented in Walmart PAC political giving while Progressive Caucus Democrats are significantly under-represented.
- Democrats supported by Walmart were much more likely to oppose key elements of President Obama’s political agenda.
- At the state level, the company and family further wield their vast resources to undermine the interests of Walmart’s core customers (working families) and associates.
