Wal-Mart is ramping up its Washington activity to push for comprehensive health care reform, and the world's largest retailer says it is ready to use its economic muscle to get out in front and influence the discussion.
"We're willing to take a stand independently and not just do it through our associations," said Linda Dillman, the retail giant's executive vice president of benefits, who was in town last week with a posse of Wal-Mart employees bending ears on Capitol Hill.
Long a target of complaints from labor, environmental and health care activists, Wal-Mart has been trying to rehabilitate its reputation in recent years by going green in its stores and becoming more employee-friendly. For instance, the company has begun offering employees a broader range of low-cost insurance options and, as part of its health care reform campaign, is pushing for greater use of electronic medical records - and helping doctors pay for the upgrade.
