Home Depot vs the government
Many times when governments are unable to enact certain wide-ranging laws, they'll instead attach strings to the money they give out. So, for instance, instead of mandating a 21-year-old drinking age, the FedGov instead said that states with a lower drinking age would
forfeit a large chunk of their federal highway funds. Similarly, governments routinely maintain
requirements for government contractors which do not apply to other businesses. But this week I've seen two different instances of large businesses turning away goverment money to avoid these restrictions.
Home Depot has directed its stores
not to do business with the FedGov:
All but two said they had received instructions from Home Depot's corporate headquarters in Atlanta this month not to take government credit cards, purchase orders or even cash if the items are being used by the federal government.
While the details are cryptic, the article hints that Home Depot is trying to avoid having to comply with a handful of affirmative action and non-discrimination laws and executive orders.
Similarly, recycling firms in Boston are
refusing to bid on the city's recycling contract unless Boston grants them a waiver for its
"living wage" law.
Boston, it turns out, may cave in and grant the waiver. The article hints that such waivers have been granted before. The Home Depot case is trickier, both because the FedGov seems less likely/able to cave and because affirmative action and discrimination seem touchier than the "living wage."
Assuming the story is true, I think the Home Depot situation will become very interesting very quickly.