Posted on 07/11/2011 8:36:48 PM PDT by Fred
Amazon, the world’s biggest online retailer, has called for a referendum in California on the state’s controversial move to tax online shopping.
The online retailer, which is based in Washington state, said on Monday that it would support a referendum on California’s move to require Amazon and other online retailers to collect sales tax from customers in the state.
(Excerpt) Read more at ft.com ...
Though if Amazon really wants my support, how about a second referendum eliminating all benefits - health, retirement, unemployment, etc, for any elected or appointed official in the state of California?
Ahh well, didn't think that’d work.
Voter referendums count for nothing until the black robed emperors speak to their subjects.
At least Amazon is giving Cal. an option and a chance.
Amazon pulled out of any physical presence in California when the gummit overstepped, costing thousands of jobs.
Amazon has the clout to use every legal trick in the book to make sure its clients don’t get screwed.
I wish the US Congress had such moxie.
Have any of the laws we put into place through the referendum process ever stuck?
All business will flee Commiefornia and then we will need to secure two borders from ruthless thieves and murderers.
>> Have any of the laws we put into place through the referendum process ever stuck?
Prop 13.
Although I understand it’s under assault, just like most of the other worthwhile propositions that haven’t been overturned outright by the Benchtop Legislators.
I heard about this a week or so ago - something like 25,000 “affiliates” [independent web sites with Amazon click-thrus] have been dropped by Amazon [alone] in order to remove its “presence” in CA.
If Amazon doesn’t have a physical “presence” in CA, then no sales tax needs to be paid ...
Trouble is that these independent web sites depend on the revenue-sharing that they get from Amazon to pay salaries, business expenses, etc.
Several independent web site operators were interviewed and stated that they were likely to move out-of-state so that they could reclaim their “affiliate” status.
This would mean loss of jobs in CA [and consequently loss of state income tax paid].
Barring not leaving the state - the web site operators stated that they would have to downsize their workforces [which would have the same negative effect].
When one stacks up the amount of state income tax paid vs. the amount of state sales tax that would be generated - the sales tax revenue loses by a mile ...
And this is JUST for Amazon - NOW [additionally] factor in Walmart, Target, K-Mart, Sears AND anybody else who has “affiliate” programs ...
THi is HUGH !!!
I live in CA, and while I absolutely disagree with the move to collect sales tax from Amazon ... I am sick to DEATH of referendums on everything.
Goofy State.
1911: Voters ratified amendments establishing the Initiative, referendum, and recall process.
For better or worse, it stuck.
Yes. Proposition 13 of 1978. It is still in effect and has saved California's taxpayers many billions of dollars.
It is about the only way left to hogtie legislators. They never stop spending.
Prop. 13 language is written directly into the California State Constitution, fat chance this could be undone, already has been challenged.
But wasn’t prop. 8 a CA constitutional amendment? If so, how did the Judges deem the constitution unconstitutional?
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