Wal-Mart Caves - Sort Of!

Wal-Mart announced it would not require repayment from Debbie Shank and her family after their victory at SCOTUS:

Statement from David Nassar, Wal-Mart Watch Executive Director: 

"We are elated that after months of public pressure and national outrage, Wal-Mart says it is finally going to do the right thing for Debbie Shank and her family. 

"During the past few weeks, Jim Shank has brought to life Debbie's tragic circumstances and vividly shown that her case is a scorching symbol of Wal-Mart's decision to insufficiently fund its health care plan for its 1.3 million U.S. workers.

"Debbie's case exemplifies what Wal-Mart Watch and others see every day:  the world's largest employer choosing to put less into its benefits than it should.  This leaves thousands of Wal-Mart associates with choices about preventative care and necessary care that are driven by what they can afford rather than by what is in their best interest.  Debbie Shank's story is not only a personal tragedy; it poses a cautionary tale for all Wal-Mart associates.

Do not get too excited folks, while this is great news for the Shank family Wal-Mart really never cared about the 470K, the issue is much bigger for them, they now have a legal precendent set that will allow them to do this same thing over and over again without all the bad press, a little bad press now followed by the last minute (after the SCOTUS win) cave costs them very little in short lived bad will. But now they can do this crap with impunity and it just will not be news. Big Win for Wally World, Big loss for middle america.