Reply #11: tax those walmart shoppers; they're helping to grow the welfare state [View All]

[orleans]

maybe this walmart tax should be higher and applied on every walmart store in every state:


Montana May Levy Tax on Wal-Mart

MISSOULA, Montana -- Montana's state legislature is targeting the big-box megastores that have taken the place of the old Western general store, weighing a special tax to offset welfare costs for low-paid employees of the retailers, Reuters reported.

A bill up for debate Tuesday calls for taxing retailers like Wal-Mart, Target and Costco for each store with more than $20 million in sales. The measure would impose a 1 percent tax on stores with more than $20 million in sales. It would rise to 1.5 percent for more than $30 million and 2 percent for sales of more than $40 million.

State Sen. Ken Toole, D-Helena, the bill's sponsor, says Montana residents are tired of subsidizing big-box stores whose low prices -- and high profits -- depend on paying workers low wages.

The tax would apply to 160 stores, accounting for about half the state's total retail activity, and funnel about $20 million a year to state coffers, Toole said.

-- NYSSCPA.org News Staff

Posted on 2/16/05

http://www.nysscpa.org/home/2005/205/3week/article31.htm