[1Old Pro]

Totally agree with both, NO taxpayer money to provide corporations to move to the state. Attract them the old fashioned way, low state taxes, competent workforce.

[headstamp 2]

They’ll bail once the tax breaks end just like most of the other businesses taking advantage of the program all these years. Its basically corporate welfare.

[Williams]

Yes I was a little surprised that in choosing new headquarters Amazon was being offered big tax breaks. Like a sports team.

[VanDeKoik]

At this point Amazon should not need outside subsidies to afford to move or expand.

[jacknyc]

Yep, NY gave away the City & State to get Amazon. Waited till after Election to drop this Deal...Taking over Citi Bank Tower in Queens to start in one of the hottest real estate locations in US. Why not Buffalo, or Rochester that needs jobs? That would have been a big plus to NY...

[LostPassword]

I see governments as a service provider. Not unlike AT&T for telcom, but government service is “incorporation” (and all the things that go with it like roads, courts, an educated workforce,etc).

Governments should compete for business, and may do so with lowest cost (tax rate) or best long term deal (tax rate + discounts) and many other factors. I’m sure Amazon doesn’t pay AT&T the same as my small business, and when the contract with AT&T runs out they may switch to Sprint (maybe before the contract runs out, just like me). AT&T will invest in new equipment at a large expense to them (often part of the contract) to land or keep a huge contract and so should a government.

If governments were run like a service provider, I’d have no problems with this deal. My problem with the deal is that the process is full of bribes and unrealistic assumptions by government workers who won’t be held responsible. And taxpayers are likely to get screwed when the government makes investments that do not get the expected ROI. But, in theory governments should make large investments to attract clients/customers (and liberals love “investing” taxpayer money for much more questionable programs).

[Buckeye McFrog]

If Republicans would get smart and realize that people absolutely HATE corporate welfare they might find that they could start peeling votes away from some interesting places.

[jdsteel]

There is a difference between a tax BREAK and using tax dollars to GIVE to a company. The former is fine and doesn’t cost taxpayers a dime, it creates more revenue by creating more taxpayers via jobs. The latter is not what was offered to Amazon, unless something happened that hasn’t been publicized.

Both Marxist Barbie and Tucker are wrong.

[SauronOfMordor]

Different tax levels violates Equal Protection, and I think the Supreme Court would so decide.

[jmclemore]

All companies should prove
themselves worthy of staying
in business. They must establish
and maintain the profitable support
of the market. If it aint profitable
for private investors, throwing tax
dollars at it won't make it profitable
for the tax payer.
Competitive tax rates, proximity
to materials/services and a good
market should be the only incentive
for relocation.

[GOPJ]

Totally agree with both, NO taxpayer money to provide corporations to move to the state.

Yep - and I totally agree with the three of you. What's with this constant attack on Tucker stuff? Trolls?