A New Tax We Can All Get Behind

A state senator in Montana has introduced a bill that would impose a gross proceeds tax on "big box stores" like Wal-Mart. The tax, however, would only kick in if these stores did not pay their employees an entry level wage of at least $22,000 a year, counting both pay and benefits. The tax would only apply to a store if its annual gross receipts went over $20 million.

The logic is that Wal-Mart actually creates welfare dependency wherever it goes, because it pays its workers so little. The Montana bill would force the retailer to pay for the mess it creates.