Wal-Mart Update

If you belong to UFCW and have been patting yourself on the back for successfully getting your Democrat handpuppets to pass the Wal-Mart bill in Maryland, you probably haven't yet had time to take stock of your numerous accomplishments for the working poor in Maryland.

Steve H. Hanke and Stephen J.K. Walters have conveniently put together a terrific accounting for you in today's Opinion Journal. Since Wal-Mart will not build the distribution center in Somerset county (the poorest county in the state), this is what you have spared its hapless residents from being a victim of:

• The center's 800 employees would have created an additional 282 jobs among "upstream" suppliers and "downstream" retailers and service establishments; all told, the center would have boosted county employment by 14% and private-sector employment by 20%.

• Total annual employee compensation in Somerset would have risen by $46.5 million, or 19%.

• Annual output (or "gross county product") would have risen by $128.3 million, or 19%.

• State and local tax receipts would have increased by $19.2 million annually; this would include $8.5 million in property taxes, $5.6 million in sales taxes, and $1.4 million in personal income taxes.

These folks are lucky to have you looking out for them, eh? But don't start the high-fives yet. There was also a planned center in Garrett County as well that's not going to be built as a direct result of your efforts. So double up on the champaign, folks - you've earned it.

Oh, and by the way - sorry you didn't have the same success on behalf of Indiana workers. Maybe you'll have better luck in Colorado...