11/18/2005

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP)- Wal-Mart has hired at least a dozen lobbyists and made a $10,000 donation to help pay for a recent conference for black lawmakers, as the world's largest retailer prepares for a battle in January over a law that would increase its health care costs for Maryland employees.

One of the first items on the agenda when the General Assembly meets in January will be Gov. Robert Ehrlich's veto of a bill that would require companies with more than 10,000 workers to spend at least 8 percent of payroll on health benefits or contribute to the state Medicaid program. Wal-Mart is the only company that would be covered at this time.

"They've hired the largest cadre of lobbyists in recent history in Annapolis to try to influence this legislation," House Speaker Michael Busch, D-Anne Arundel, told The Washington Post. "It really comes down to whether the legislature is going to succumb to the money and the special interests."

The stakes are high for Wal-Mart as other states consider following Maryland's lead. It comes at a time when the company is under attack nationally by critics who say its salaries and benefits are so low that many employees are eligible for state assistance for the poor.

Nate Hurst, a Wal-Mart spokesman, told The Post that the donation to the Legislative Black Caucus to help pay for the October conference was part of the company's campaign to inform lawmakers about the bill. Company officials also planned to attend a caucus retreat scheduled for Friday.

Records at the State Ethics Commission showed 12 lobbyists have registered to represent Wal-Mart, including nine who registered in October. Some of the best-known, highest paid lobbyists in Maryland are now representing the company.

The health care bill promoted by organized labor and liberal lobbying groups was approved during the 2005 General Assembly session with margins close to the three-fifths vote in each house required to override the governor's veto. It was one vote above that number in the Senate and one vote short in the House, where several delegates who supported the bill were not present for the vote.

Labor unions are gearing up for the battle, and the Service Employees International Union chapter serving Maryland and the District of Columbia gave $7,500 to support the same conference of black lawmakers that got the $10,000 Wal-Mart donation, Jamie Kendrick, executive director of the chapter, told The Post.

While Wal-Mart is reaching out to black lawmakers, Delegate Joanne Benson, D-Prince George's, said it would be difficult for members of the caucus to switch votes.

Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller said he thinks the Democratic votes will hold when the bill comes up for a veto override.

"Any member would be very hard-pressed to change their vote based on a fat-cat lobbyist asking them to side with a big corporation," Miller said.