Last month, politicians in D.C. passed the Living Wage Law, which mandates big business pays its employees at least $12.50 an hour... a significant increase from the current $7.25 federal minimum wage rate. (It's only applicable to retailers with sales of $1 billion or more.)
Wal-Mart, the world's largest retailer, said it would leave Washington, D.C. if the law passed. And lawmakers put Wal-Mart to the test...
D.C. City Councilman Vincent Orange, a lead proponent of the legislation, said, "The question here is a living wage. It's not whether Wal-Mart comes or stays... We're at a point where we don't need retailers. Retailers need us."
In response, Wal-Mart said it would abandon plans to build three stores in the area and "review the financial and legal implications" of not opening them.
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