In its struggle against surging online retailers such as Amazon.com Inc., Wal-Mart Stores Inc. has unleashed a weapon long shunned by Sam Walton: lobbying.
On July 24, the U.S. House of Representatives Judiciary Committee will hold a hearing on a bill to let states collect sales tax from out-of-state merchants that sell to their residents. If it is passed, online retailers, which now mostly don’t collect sales tax, will lose a price advantage that has helped them take business from brick-and-mortar stores.
Wal-Mart, which has been boosting political contributions and staffing up its Washington office, is one of the prime movers behind the bill, said U.S. Rep. Steve Womack, R-Rogers, who authored the proposed legislation.
“This is Wal-Mart’s top issue, if not one of their top issues,” Womack said. “Wal-Mart is important to me because they are headquartered in my district.” Click here to read the full story from our partners at TheCityWire.com.
