Legislative, Regulatory & Legal

WASHINGTON — The National Retail Federation said it supports legislation that would repeal the employer mandate provision of the health care reform law scheduled to take effect next year.

Washington -- The National Retail Federation this week welcomed introduction of House and Senate legislation that would repeal the employer mandate provision of the health care reform law scheduled to take effect next year.

Washington, D.C. -- According to published reports, President Obama will nominate Walmart Foundation president Sylvia Mathews Burwell as director of the Office of Management and Budget.

New York -- Shopping center operator Kimco Realty Corp. has received a subpoena in an investigation over possible violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) by Wal-Mart Stores, Reuters reported.

In a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the Kimco said it had received the subpoena on Jan. 28 from the SEC’s Enforcement Division. Kimco said it would fully cooperate with the SEC, and that the Department of Justice was conducting a "parallel investigation" with the SEC, according to the report.

New York -- Wal-Mart Stores on Thursday confirmed a report from the Wall Street Journal that its U.S. chief administrative officer, Tom Mars, will step down in March. The company did not give a reason for his departure.

Katherine Lugar will join the American Hotel & Lodging Association as president and CEO.

Lugar spent the past six years as EVP of the Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA) where president Sandy Kennedy credited Lugar as a driving force behind the trade group’s growth and key legislative victories on behalf of the industry.

ARLINGTON, Va. — Consumer confidence in the overall economy and sentiment toward technology both fell again in February, according to the latest figures released by the Consumer Electronics Association.

The CEA Index of Consumer Expectations (ICE), which measures consumer expectations about the broader economy, fell 2.7 points in February to 165.3. Consumer confidence in the overall economy declined for the second consecutive month.

New York -- Five women in Wisconsin have filed suit against Wal-Mart Stores, claiming the retailer denied them and other female employees equal pay and equal opportunities, the Journal Sentinel reported. The suit, which also seeks class-action status, claims Wal-Mart discriminated against female employees in the chain's Region 14, which includes stores in Wisconsin, Michigan, Indiana and Illinois.

CONSHOHOCKEN, Pa. — American fans of Ikea’s Swedish meatballs can rest easy following clarification from the company regarding the origin of beef and pork found in meatballs sold at U.S. stores.

Expenses related to Walmart’s ongoing Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and related compliance matters will reach $200 million by the end of the first quarter, according to disclosures made Thursday in conjunction with the release of fourth quarter financial results.

In addition to the $99 million Walmart had spent on FCPA and compliance matters at the end of the third quarter, it spent another $58 million during the fourth quarter and said the first quarter could see expenses ranging from $40 million to $45 million.