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.

NEW YORK — JCPenney Co. continues to dominate the retail news as its shares dropped 10.6% yesterday to a four-year low after reports that one of its largest shareholders had sold a chunk of the troubled company’s stock. And in a late afternoon report, The Wall Street Journal said that a group of Penney directors is ready to get rid of CEO Ron Johnson, or push to sell the chain unless he can stop the company’s heavy bleeding this 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.

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.