Our Corporate Government

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and its Institute for Legal Reform, spent $53.38 million lobbying the federal government during 2004, more than any other group. Which explains why the GOP is all in a lather about "tort reform"; they're being well-paid to serve corporate interests by depriving the public of one of its only weapons against malfeasant corporations.



And the 800-pound gorilla of malfeasant corporations, Wal-Mart, has just reached a settlement over its violation of child labor laws in Connecticut, Arkansas and New Hampshire. As part of the settlement, "the Labor Department agreed to give Wal-Mart 15 days' notice before [it] investigates any other 'wage and hour' accusations, like failure to pay minimum wage or overtime."



Fifteen days' notice. Wouldn't you love to get a special tipoff when you were about to be investigated, so you could (temporarily at least) "cure" the relevant violations? Travesty, thy name is Bushco.



(Both via Daily Kos)