Eric Boehlert: Don't blame D.C. for Walmart's fear of living wages

Media Matters senior fellow Eric Boehlert on Wednesday said it was wrong for some conservative media figures to attack the city of Washington, D.C. over a "living wage" proposal.

The measure, approved by the D.C. Council on Wednesday, has caused retail giant Walmart to threaten to abandon the city. Opponents of the measure have claimed the city shot itself in the foot.

"We saw that report and they said the city did this to themselves. No, they didn't," Boehlert said on The Young Turks.

"They passed living wage bill and one company stepped forward and said we're leaving. Costco pays their employees almost three times what Walmart pays. They're other big box retailers in Washington, D.C. -- they're going to adjust, they're going to be fine."

The legislation, if signed by Mayor Vince Gray, would require Walmart and other big retail outlets to pay employees at least $12.50 per hour.

"This is what they want to reflect in their community," Boehlert said, "and one company has a problem with it."

Watch video, uploaded to YouTube, below: