Many were surprised and the head of the National Retail Federation reportedly was "flabbergasted", at the news that the nation's largest employer would support a measure that was so burdensome on industry.
The answer is not really all that hard to find when you consider that Wal-Mart has been in the sights of many on Capitol Hill as the target of specialized legislation aimed at so-called low-wage employers which is specifically referring to Wal-Mart even though it doesn't use the name.
This drastic shift in policy could forestall legislation aimed at large multistate employers of fairly low wage positions and spread the burden of employer mandated health care amongst Wal-Mart competitors, most of whom are not nearly as well-equipped to spread out the costs.
Wal-Mart's philosophy is fairly simple: when you think you see the train coming, pay the fare to get on it, even if it's expensive and let the train roll over the other guys.
You can read the story in the Wall Street Journal by clicking here.
