Amazon negoitiating for sales-tax exemption in trade for 5,000 new Texas jobs

[sonias]

Postcards from the Lege blog AAS 6/20/11

Amazon negoitiating for sales-tax exemption in trade for 5,000 new Texas jobs
Amazon.com is negotiating a deal with Texas officials that would see the online retail giant promise to bring more than 5,000 jobs and $300 million in capital investments to the state over the next three years - if in exchange lawmakers will grant Amazon a 4 1/2-year exemption from collecting tax on online sales, according to documents obtained by the American-Statesman.

The proposed deal would be implemented by attaching it to Senate Bill 1, the wide-ranging fiscal matters bill being debated in the Legislature’s special session. SB 1 is a must-pass measure essential to balancing the state’s 2012-13 budget.

A draft copy of the conference committee report that would add the language to SB 1 was obtained by the American-Statesman. Mark Miner, spokesman for Gov. Rick Perry, confirmed Monday that the governor’s office has seen the draft copy of the proposed legislative language.

“The governor is always working to create jobs in Texas, and he supports any kind of legislation that would accomplish that goal,” Miner said. “His focus has always been on the Texas economy and creating jobs in this state. He’s always talking to companies in Texas that want to expand, or companies outside of Texas who might want to locate here.”

On a related note, Bill 2403 which would have very clearly defined that Amazon and related Internet sales companies would have to pay Texas sales tax was vetoed by the Guv. Boy is he running for President, or what?

:shrug:

[sonias]

1. Legislature leaning against taking Amazon deal

Postcards from the Lege 6/23/11
Senator: Legislature leaning against taking Amazon deal


It looks like the Texas Legislature is likely to say no — at least for now — to Amazon.com’s proposal to bring 5,000 jobs to the state in exchange for a temporary break on collecting sales tax.

State Sen. Bob Deuell, R-Greenville, said this morning that the odds were slim the deal with Amazon would survive in the legislative conference committee report that would have attached the language to Senate Bill 1.

SB 1 is the fiscal matters bill being debated in the Legislature’s special session, and is a must-pass measure essential to balancing the state’s 2012-13 budget.
Deuell is a member of the conference committee working to iron out differences between the House and Senate on SB 1.

Ha! Great, where were these guys on checking Perry's other corporate welfare giveaways?

:kick: