From Inversions To Perversions: Gov’t Reacts To The Pfizer Deal

Investors Business Daily ^ | 11/230/2015 | Editorial

[expat_panama]

Tax Policy: The Pfizer-Allergan deal that will let the U.S. drug giant cut costs by renouncing its citizenship cries out for reform of an outmoded business tax system. Instead, our crackerjack regulators are pouncing into action.

The Treasury Department has announced it will create new legal restrictions on the ability of U.S. companies to merge with foreign firms in a tax-saving process called "inversion."

In this case, $48-billion-in sales Pfizer, now headquartered in New York City, will merge with $15-billion-in sales Allergan and move certain operations and jobs to Ireland.

But the administration wants to build a de facto regulatory Berlin Wall to prevent such moves.

We've got a better idea. Instead of strong-arming businesses to stay in the U.S., why not adopt policies that would not only incentivize them to stay, but also encourage foreign companies to locate here?

[snip]

This, as former Fed chairman Paul Volcker told Obama after the president appointed him to head a panel on how to improve the tax code...

[snip]

The hypocrisy of the left on this issue is also worth noting. For years and even decades liberals have declared: "Taxes don't matter." Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders say this on the campaign trail seemingly every day as they push for "higher taxes on the rich."

But if taxes don't matter, why are the companies leaving? Why does Lew have to "protect the U.S. tax base"?

The obvious answer is that taxes do impact where companies locate, and the Obama regime knows it. It also knows that our tax base is in serious jeopardy when rates are too high and American companies get out of Dodge.

Imagine if they have their way and raise rates to 70% or more. There won't be a tax base left for Treasury to "protect."

[expat_panama]

The IBD print edition title (once again) was different from the web page --I still like the print title better...

[CharlesOConnell]

The People’s Banana Republic of Amrika.

[Lisbon1940]

Send one Viagra from each pack to Jack Lew. That should cover it.

[1rudeboy]

If it moves, tax it.
If it keeps moving, regulate it.
And if it stops moving, subsidize it.
--Ronald Reagan

[expat_panama]

Hey guys!  Stocks went nowhere in light trade yesterday, futures traders see more of the same, and yours truly is in favor of what theirs truly expects.  Even metals futures are seen 'unchanged' today, tho right now gold/silver are trading at just $1,074.60/$14.22.  If that stuff is 'insurance' then this is what paying a premium is like.

Today's reports have (along w/ other stuff) the GDP being revised:

8:30 AM GDP - Second Estimate
8:30 AM GDP Deflator - Second Estimate
9:00 AM Case-Shiller 20-city Index
10:00 AM Consumer Confidence

I can't wait. < /s >  More news to ignore:

Will the Economy Decide 2016 Election? - George Perry, RealClearMarkets
Where the Economy Is Heading: Holtz-Eakin vs. Jason Furman - WSJ
Focused on Yellen, Rep. Ryan Sets Prosperous Tone - Ralph Benko, Forbes
Giving Billions To the Big Rich - Marc Short & Andy Koenig, New York Times
A Bounty of Good Thanksgiving News - Richard Rahn, Washington Times
Can Stocks Rise on Wave of Global Liquidity? - John Kimelman, Barron's
Why Fear Is Like Sand In Gears for Investors - Joe Chidley, National Post

Ah --just remembered, check out the FR thread From Inversions To Perversions: Gov’t Reacts To The Pfizer Deal.

[pieceofthepuzzle]

Pfizer has employed lots of people, over 78 thousand. This is going to hurt. Ironically, it was the Pfizer facility in New London Connecticut that was to be the anchor of the redevelopment project that led to the eminent domain Kelo decision that let New London destroy people's homes. The facility closed in 2009-2010, and employed ~1,400 people in that location alone.

[expat_panama]

Excellent quote. Muy apropos.

[tflabo]

Corporate tax reform now. The leftists tax to death and kill jobs. Venezuela anyone? Trump is the candidate who can target such a mess.

[a fool in paradise]

If the government is A-OK with tech jobs being offshored and the product being freely imported via the internet...

if the government is A-OK with illegal immigrants wiring billions of dollars BACK HOME and taking the money out of the US economy...

if the government is A-OK with foreign property investments driving up housing and rent costs in the US and taking the money out of the US economy....

Then the government has no business in suddenly trying to put the brake on globalism because of confiscatory tax rates to support an unsustainable welfare state.

[Toddsterpatriot]

In this case, $48-billion-in sales Pfizer, now headquartered in New York City, will merge with $15-billion-in sales Allergan and move certain operations and jobs to Ireland.

But the administration wants to build a de facto regulatory Berlin Wall to prevent such moves.

They're going to prevent foreign companies from buying US companies? LOL! Morons.

[i_robot73]

And yet, the Left/Socialists (I repeat myself) always scream their ideal that people won’t change their behavior based on $$/taxes....Here’s just ONE example of that fallacy. Plus, note how fast they are spinning to grab all the $$ before it ‘disappears’ (and rightfully so).

Let them spin on their eyebrows. I suspect, too, the GOP won’t have the brains to capitalize on the loss of $$, jobs and why biz move FROM the U.S.

[OldMissileer]

In my younger years the United States had some of the best tax policies and rates in the World. Companies from nearly every country came here to do business, but within my lifetime the worthless politicians in DC have turned our Country into a third-world mess and have chased companies away with high tax rates and piles of regulations.

I sometimes wonder if all that I did fighting the Cold War for nearly twenty years was even worth all of my efforts.

[exit82]

Trump said last night in his speech that Pfizer was moving out of the country.

He was right again.

Most folks did not understand the ramifications of this Pfizer deal when it was announced yesterday.

[Daveinyork]

In the 1990’s, the IRS tried to change the way S corporation distributions are taxes. Speaker Newt sent them a letter telling them in no uncertain terms that it is Congress, not the IRS, that writes tax law. Does Ryan have the guts?

[Lurkina.n.Learnin]

Now Turkey (NATO member) shoots down Russian jet. Hmmm...

[Cyclone59]

well let’s see here. The new merged company’s tax rates goes from 25% to 16%, No jobs being lost, what would you do?

That is the simple question that needs to be posed to any politician who has something to say about it.

[zzwhale]

inversion or no inversion ussa based multinationals are keeping money TRILLIONS and jobs offshore... and the inversion will result in loss of jobs globally NOT JUST THE USSA. Hey why not give a tax incentive for job creation instead of shifting high tech jobs and engineering overseas and allowing the goods to enter the ussa market... plus allowing importation cheap highly educated engineers and techs on H1 visas... ussa citizens are getting screwed blued and tattooed and dont even realize it.... but congress does and puts lots of lobbyist money into pockets ..... hundreds of millions... why do you think the tax code is so complicated.... corporations and wealthy individuals want it that way... want to evade / avoid estate taxes ... check out the dakotas... warren and bill did... the average joe sixpack middle class working stiff is the DONKEY PULLING THE CORPORATE AND SOCIAL WELFARE WAGON ...AND PROVIDING THE BODIES FOR THE BODYBAGS..... so some limp wristed effeminate commie jihadi muslim can do everything in his power to take the country down...and support his muslim fellow jihadis.

The deal sucks because AGN was really worth $400/share and PFE got the better deal and AGN shareholders get 11.3 PFE shares which are dropping in value.

AGN will have $40.3 billion in cash after selling its generics to TEVA and they will do the same with PFE generics and spin/split the company into generic and patent/specialty divisions focused on acquiring advanced medicine. The combined company will buy back lots of shares and continue to acquire other pharma companies and probably double n the next 5 years ....

The ussa government penalizes drug companies who spend billions on R+D to come up with one winner after tens of losers... So another brilliant govt policy is to inhibit drug research...

IF HE TAX RATE WERE LOWERED TO 15% AND COMPANIES WOULD KEEP JOBS HERE THE USSA MIGHT BECOME THE USA AGAIN.....

[citizen]

Global weakness everywhere you look...

---

Global debt defaults near milestone
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/40146b80-91bf-11e5-94e6-c5413829caa5.html#axzz3sQtZy0VB

[citizen]

"GDP...increased at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 2.1% last quarter.

Betcha it was seasonally adjusted UP!

What do you think??

[RWB Patriot]

Whenever politicians have a choice between fixing a problem and covering it up, they will more often than not choose the latter. Fixing it would require them to admit they messed up, and that’s one of the biggest threats to “Da gubmint be da sowution to all pwobwems”.