Walmart CEO Doug McMillon calls for Gov. Asa Hutchinson to veto HB 1228

[LiberalArkie]

http://www.arktimes.com/ArkansasBlog/archives/2015/03/31/walmart-ceo-doug-mcmillon-calls-for-gov-asa-hutchinson-to-veto-hb-1228
?cb=1427844682

On its "Walmart Newsroom" Twitter feed, the world's largest private employer has released an official statement calling on Gov. Asa Hutchinson to veto HB 1228, the "religious protection" bill just granted final passage by the House that would potentially encourage discrimination against LGBT people in Arkansas.

CEO Doug McMillon has attached his name to the statement:

This is important. Walmart has spoken out against HB 1228 in the past, but there's a difference between expressing displeasure with a bill and actually asking the governor to draw such a firm line in the sand. The company wields tremendous power in Arkansas, especially in Northwest Arkansas. Hutchinson is from Northwest Arkansas, as are the legislators who most loudly support HB 1228, such as Sen. Bart Hester (R-Cave Springs).

Walmart's statement clearly calling for a veto also stands in sharp contrast to the Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce, which cautiously disapproved of the bill but stopped short of asking Hutchinson to veto it.

The responses Walmart is getting on Twitter are interesting. Lots of positives, but some negatives as well, including replies from folks who seem to feel the corporate giant has betrayed them in the culture wars. A sampling:

Snip

[beachbum bob]

1. lets see how much pull Walmart has

Asa been watching the flack in Indiana but he has to deal with even more batshit crazies in Arkansas.....I hope he does sign it though I'm not sure if arkansas version is as discriminatory as Indiana law is. I hope he signs it so we can watch the hell storm fall on arkansas!!!!

so much fun to watch

[LiberalArkie]

2. Yes it is fun to watch

As far as I have heard they are identical bills. I feel someone paid some folks to bring those bills up. And being GOP, they never look beyond the check. I really think that as it stands if a Republican president was elected next, it would be the death of conservative politics. Even the Democrats would be afraid to go there.