By Ian Simpson
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – District of Columbia Mayor Vincent Gray could decide as early as this week whether to sign a minimum wage bill that could discourage Wal-Mart Stores Inc (WMT.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz), the world’s biggest retailer, from opening stores in the U.S. capital.
The bill, approved by the City Council two months ago, would require big retailers to pay a 50 percent premium on the local minimum wage of $8.25 per hour, with backers saying that Wal-Mart and others can easily afford it to get into the District of Columbia’s fast-growing market.