Walmart Worker: Why Did the Waltons Get $8 Billion in Subsidies While I Had to Pay Taxes?

[xchrom]

http://www.alternet.org/activism/walmart-worker-why-did-waltons-get-8-billion-subsidies-while-i-had-pay-taxes



While millions of working- and middle-class Americans pay taxes each year, the richest family in the world—the Waltons—received nearly $8 billion in tax breaks last year, according to a new report by Americans for Tax Fairness, a campaign fighting for progressive tax reform.

That’s why Walmart worker Richard Reynoso and his fellow co-workers decided to bring the $7.8 billion tax bill to Walmart Chairman Rob Walton’s doorstep on Tuesday. Reynoso traveled from his home in Southern California to Phoenix, Arizona to bring this unfairness to light.

“We’re just trying to get him to hear us as workers that that kind of money — it shouldn’t just all go to him,” Reynoso said. “He should spread the wealth… and give back to the workers who are struggling.”

The report stated that in 2013, Walmart received about $6.2 billion in federal taxpayer subsidies because its employee wages are so low. Many employees, in turn, are forced to rely on healthcare, food stamps and other taxpayer-funded programs. The corporation then further evaded $1 billion through tax breaks and loopholes. The Walton family, in addition, avoided about $607 million of taxes on their Walmart dividends.

[postulater]

1. Correcting this one thing

Would go a long way to making things better.

[marions ghost]

2. MUST SEE VIDEO -- Chris Hayes All In last night:

http://thinkprogress.org/election/2014/04/16/3427197/dennis-ross-minimum-wage/

Congressman Tells Low-Income Worker: Higher Minimum Wage Is ‘Not Right’

TAMPA, Florida — People like Shaneeka Rainer are often told that they shouldn’t try to get the minimum wage increased because it only really applies to teenagers working entry-level jobs. That indeed may have described Rainer 10 years ago, when he first entered the workforce. But a decade after he got his first job in fast food, Rainer still finds himself working at Arby’s for minimum wage.

In other words, Rainer has worked an entire decade receiving only one raise: when Congress increased the minimum wage in 2007.

And so he showed up at his congressman’s public forum on Tuesday to ask Rep. Dennis Ross (R-FL) to finally give him and millions of other low-income Americans a raise.

Ross, who is seeking a third term representing Tampa’s northwest suburbs, was unmoved by Rainer’s plea. “It’s not right,” the Florida Republican said. “If we are going to make it a living wage, who’s going to pay for it?”

An audience member declared that he’d gladly pay slightly more for a hamburger in order to increase the minimum wage, prompting applause from the crowd.

[xchrom]

4. +1

[marions ghost]

8. The congressman has the nerve to look that Arby's worker in the face and say

"economically it doesn't work to raise the minimum wage."

I so support that guy who asked the question.

[HughBeaumont]

15. Yeah, because it's really "economically working" to not even correct it for inflation in 40+ years.

So, vis-a-vis, it LOSES buying power.

These businesses are getting away with quite a scam . . . a plan that assumes the 7.25 insult stays around permanently, effectively meaning the worker NEVER gets a raise.

Where are these people HATCHED from?

[marions ghost]

16. Hatched from

Cheap labor = big profits. Turning people into slaves.

[frylock]

11. the MARKET pays for it, dumbnuts..

for as much as these idiots bleat about free market capitalism, they sure seem to know fuckall about it.

[marions ghost]

13. Who pays for it?

...the Billionaires Club says "don't look at us!" That would be SO unfair.

But the little guy in the back generously says he'll pay 20 cents more for a burger. So that would be in line with "take it out of the customer."

They never imagine that they could make slightly less profit and still be fine.

It's a sickness.

[frylock]

14. as someone posted in another thread about these greed merchants..

they don't care about the billions in profit that they are making. it's always about the potential money they may not be making. nothing is ever enough for these assholes.

[toby jo]

3. Good job, Richard! Hope you keep your job.

At 6 billion not paid, to 300 million of us folks who did, that'd be $26.66 they owe to each American. Send mine to the homeless, guys, thanks.

[okaawhatever]

5. While I appreciate the sentiment, the premise is ridiculous. Why send someone a tax bill for doing

what many other companies are doing? (paying minimum wage) 6.2 Billion of the 7.8 Billion "tax bill" is for employee's who receive federal money to supplement their income. First, you'd have to look at employees who would qualify for these subsidies even if WalMart paid a decent wage. Second, you'd need to hand out a tax bill to every company doing the same thing.
Yes, Wal Mart is a pox on this country. Yes, they're scum for paying workers so little and offering little to no advancement. Yes, the taxpayers are subsidizing their profits, but that isn't Wal Mart's fault. That is the fault of those who won't raise the minimum wage in Congress. There are what like 10 Democrats and all Republicans who won't pass a higher minimum wage. That is who needs to be called out on that. Also, what about the American citizens. They're shopping there night and day adding more profit to Wal Mart's bottom line (I haven't shopped there in years). If Americas boycotted Wal Mart they wouldn't have those profits. If Congress would pass the minimum wage bill, they wouldn't be able to pay those low wages. If Americans demanded more made in the USA merchandise, we wouldn't see made in China on just about everything.
Wal Mart is a problem, but they're not the real problem. The real problem is bought and paid for politicians (courtesy of SCOTUS), American citizens who won't vote with their wallet, a press who won't report what our true costs are for shopping at Wal Mart (courtesy of SCOTUS, deregulation and congress) and a sub-poverty level minimum wage (courtesy of almost all Republicans and a few Dems). Shining a light on Wal Mart is a good idea, but let's not kid ourselves. The only reason they get away with what they do is because it's legal and because Americans are too scared financially to rock any boats right now.

[bkanderson76]

6. Maybe a tad lopsided ya think?

A few generations have passed but I do recollect Sittin there on the porch sippin tea during them hot summer nights listenin to Grandpa, Dad and the Uncles shoot the shit after a days work.
Now I'm not much a betting man but if I were, I'd certainly have to wager the farm to bet that them workin folk of those days and times wouldn't be puttin up with shit like this....but it ain't them times and them folks ain't around.
So, you all just hustle on down to the courthouse to pay the taxes for 'em and when you are done with that...Get To Work!

[Niceguy1]

7. wrong....

Walmart is following the law....

The solution is to change it.

[Shoulders of Giants]

9. In this case they may be

But when Walmart "forgets" to pay their employees overtime, busts unions, locks people up in the buildings at night, or discriminates in promoting, they most certainly aren't following the law.

[NCTraveler]

10. For the most part Walmart is working within the current laws.

The tax code and other regulations need to be changed. While there is absolutely nothing wrong with what Reynoso did here, it will change nothing. Then again, delivering it to congress wouldn't change anything either. We need to keep beating the drums. The tax code needs to change and there need to be more federal protection of workers rights.

[WillowTree]

12. One other little discrepancy.

"The Waltons" didn't receive the subsidies. Walmart, a publicly traded corporation did. There really is a difference.