Fri
Apr 22 2011
09:42 am
Corporate Welfare; $92,000,000 worth
By: macmurchadh

It's too bad the leaders we elect are not as concerned about what amounts to corporate welfare, as they are about curing our budget woes on the backs of the middle class, the poor, and the retired. Smells like corporate socialism to me. Ramsey and Haslam would have done exactly the same.
Let's add Amazon to the boycott list along with Georgia Pacific.
Senate speaker questions Amazon deal

Internet sales tax

Submitted by onetahiti on April 22, 2011 - 10:51am.

A better way to raise revenue might be to get the U.S. Congress to pass an Internet sales tax law requiring that all Internet sales be taxed. After all, it is highly likely that nearly all Internet sales involve interstate commerce if only en route over the network.

-- OneTahiti

Congress

Submitted by BTMatthews42 on April 22, 2011 - 10:39am.

This would almost have to come thru the U.S. Congress and as much as I am not a big fan of the deal, the jobs are a good thing..-Brian

I think TN law is rather

Submitted by WhitesCreek on April 22, 2011 - 11:27am.

I think TN law is rather clear on the fact that Amazon should collect the sales tax. What is also clear is that TN politicians are pretty much chickens.

I have yet to see a study that shows a net increase in jobs when Amazon comes in to town and the loss of existing retail jobs and businesses is factored it. Amazon is a net loser unless it collects the sales tax.

WC

Submitted by onetahiti on April 22, 2011 - 12:12pm.

Of course there would be a net increase of jobs were Amazon's distribution center to be located in Tennessee.

Local businesses should not lose business to Amazon since the facility is not retail. Amazon customers are not going to care whether the distribution center is located in Tennessee or elsewhere.

Local businesses should even see an increase in sales to all those new Amazon workers with paychecks to spend.

-- OneTahiti

One T,

Submitted by WhitesCreek on April 22, 2011 - 2:13pm.

That is not what any of the studies show. Amazon is looking at taking business away from existing retailers in its business model. Its chief advantage is lower cost by way of not collecting sales tax.

Oddly, the single biggest opponent to Amazon enabling tax cheats is WalMart, but a large coalition of retailers is hammering legislators who will take the cowardly way out in any event. What is needed is actually federal legislation requiring sales tax to be collected at the point of delivery.

Tennessee law is explicit in requiring sales tax collections for an operation of this type. I see lawsuits in Amazon's future.

WC

Submitted by onetahiti on April 22, 2011 - 3:40pm.

I see no Amazon jobs in Tennessee. :(

Also I stand by my analysis. Any negative effect on Tennessee businesses will be the same whether Amazon builds here or over the border in Georgia. If they build here, at least we get the jobs and the increased business from all those workers.

Again, a better way might be action in Congress.

-- OneTahiti

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