Transportation Bill Has $37 Million for Wal-Mart Headquarters Street

[NNN0LHI]

http://ap.tbo.com/ap/breaking/MGBM3FGRQ6E.html

BENTONVILLE, Ark. (AP) - The U.S. House has approved a federal highway bill that includes $37 million for widening and extending the Bentonville street that provides the main access to the headquarters of Wal-Mart Stores Inc.

The company says it asked U.S. Rep. John Boozman, R-Ark., to help get federal money for the proposed project. U.S. Rep. Don Young, R-Alaska, added an amendment that put the work into the $284 billion bill, which is now before the Senate.

Wal-Mart spokesman Jay Allen said the company wants Eighth Street improved so the 10,000 workers at company headquarters will have an easier time getting to their jobs. In the time Wal-Mart's headquarters has been at the site, the company has grown at a much greater rate than the street has been improved. Wal-Mart, as measured by sales, is the world's largest company. Wal-Mart has 20,000 employees in the Bentonville area; about half of them work at the company's headquarters.

"We have people living all over the area," Allen said. "Infrastructure in northwest Arkansas is a big issue for us. This would represent another east-west corridor connected to the interstate, which would benefit everybody."

more

Ain't that nice?

[Melodybe]

1. Wal-Mart gives more money to republicans than any other corporation

in the country, they don't give all that money for nothing.

Just another reason never to shop there.

[rodeodance]

2. makes me so so so ANGRY!!!

[keopeli]

3. Meanwhile, our viaduct is crumbling from the '01 eatchquake

and it's about to fall down. This is a main and elevated thoroughfare that runs through downtown Seattle. Our petition for Federal funds fell on deaf ears.

Should we save Seattlites from an impending and immenint threat, or should we cut down on Wal Marters commute time a bit?

[maxsolomon]

5. if the viaduct went to a walmart....

we'd get our funds.

but since we're tree hugging green nazi america-haters, we can suck it.

[Dyedinthewoolliberal]

4. Can you say,

Corporate Welfare? I knew you could..........

[bettyellen]

6. more payback for walmart -- secret deal with the dept of labour

WAL MART HAMMERED FOR CUTTING 'SECRET DEAL' WITH U.S. LABOUR DEPARTMENT


There is growing fury in the U.S. over the relationship between Wal Mart and the U.S. Department of Labour.

Recently Wal Mart agreed to pay a $135,000 to settle charges of violating child labour laws in three U.S. states, but the company got a lot more than just, 'off the hook', in the secret deal with the Department of Labour. First Wal mart paid the fine but did not admit to any wrongdoing in the case that saw children in its stores forced to operate dangerous equipment such as balers and chain saws. But the real deal for Wal Mart came in the form of an agreement with the Department of Labour that from now on the world's largest retailer would be given fifteen days notice before any investigation even started by the Department into child labour violations complaints. But that's not all. In addition to the fifteen days advance notice that an investigation would start the company is given another ten days to correct the violations.

In another revelation this week, it was also made public that the U.S. Department of Labour has cut another secret side deal with Wal Mart that gives the company access to employee complaints against it before those complaints are investigated by the Department. Complaints filed by employees are now sent directly to Wal Mart's head office in Arkansas and from there down the corporate chain to the store where the employee works where the employee is summarily fired. End of complaint!

http://www.ufcw1518.com/index2.html?view.php?id=1167~mainFrame

[bettyellen]

7. "secret arrangement between Wal-Mart and the Bush administration"

“I am very concerned about this secret arrangement between Wal-Mart and the Bush Administration,” said U.S. Representative George Miller (D-Calif.), the senior Democrat on the House Education and the Workforce Committee.


“This is a company that has been accused of a lengthy list of labor violations. Wal-Mart does not have the credibility to serve as an impartial investigator of accusations of labor violations against itself. I intend to find out how this arrangement was reached and, if appropriate, I will consider asking Congress to rescind the agreement if it cannot be justified."

“Once again, it looks like the Bush Administration is doing a favour for a powerful friend and contributor at the expense of workers who do their jobs and still cannot get fair treatment in the workplace”, Miller said, quoted by the International Labor Communications Association ILCA.

http://www.union-network.org/UNIsite/Sectors/Commerce/Multinationals/Wal-Mart_sweetheart_deal_with_Bush.htm

[Zorra]

13. "....the Bush Administration is doing a favour for a powerful friend and

contributor...."

That pretty much sums up the purpose of the US government in 2005.

[mark414]

8. this is a company that posted over $1 billion in PROFITS in one day

the day after thanksgiving, and they can't afford to fix their own roads?

[dbt]

9. Time out!

According to the vicious, yellow, ultra-ultra-ULTRA CONservative, Clinton-hating, corporate-ass-licking RAG that is the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Wal-Mart has more workers in Arkansas who get WELFARE BENEFITS than any other company which does bidness here.

And it wants to spend $37 Fucking Million on one (count 'em, ONE) street so its workers "will have an easier time?"

:wtf:

I. Call. Bullshit.

[bvar22]

10. Wal-Mart must DIE!!!

MONEY SPENT AT WAL-MART KILLS
GOD'S UNBORN CHILDREN!!!

Get some of those bloody posters that the Anti-Choice crowd uses to picket Planned Parenthood, and use them to picket Wally World.
I’m absolutely PRO-CHOICE, but think the Fundies need to face this hypocrisy.

Wal-Mart supports
COMMUNIST DICTATORS!!!

Will the Republicans stand on Moral Values when their wallet is threatened?
Only immoral people (Communist abortion lovers) shop at Wal-Mart!

[Mist]

11. Disgusting load of pork

Since when has Wal-Mart cared whether their workers "have an easier time getting to their jobs"?

[saigon68]

12. MORE CORPORATE WELFARE 4 THE WORLD'S biggest CRIMINAL

Expect nothing less from Nazi tommy deLay and his gang of thugs and hoodlums.

[Al-CIAda]

14. Map of the FTAA-

[Ariana Celeste]

15. Ugh.

Meanwhile, in other areas (for example, Indianapolis) some roads and highways are so bad it is like driving on gravel.

[Toucano]

16. kick n/t

[PurityOfEssence]

17. The corporate rich are moochers of the worst kind

They're freeloaders and greedheads, and this particular company is the pick of the crop: by paying pathetic wages, they destroy other businesses while their own employees have to seek public assistance just to scrape by. Of course, this corporation does all it can to make sure it doesn't pay much in taxes, so the bill is footed by the rest of us. The Waltons are some of the very richest people in the country; this is disgusting.

If they want a damn road, why don't they build it themselves? They sure as hell suck plenty of services out of the government without returning anything.

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

18. Welfare bums

Can't they pull their load without a government handout?

[NVMojo]

19. this is so disgusting!! This company is a drain on local resources

as it is! Most Walmart employees make so little money that they can't afford the high health insurance premium to stay on the company insurance, they need to do things like eat and pay their heating bills first! They end up on public health assistance in most cases, being subsidized by everyone else. Walmart is a giant sucking leech!!!