States Can’t Win the Endless ‘Business Climate’ Game

from In These Times:



States Can’t Win the Endless ‘Business Climate’ Game

Tuesday
Jul 19, 2011
2:49 pm

By Roger Bybee


For the past four decades, America's 50 states have allowed themselves to be trapped as players in a multi-state race to the bottom staged by Corporate America.

The inter-state (and increasingly global) competition to offer corporations the most perfect “business climate” costs states a huge share of their tax revenues. Greg LeRoy, author of the Great American Jobs Scam, estimates the cost of state-level inducements at a staggering $50 billion annually, and journalist David Cay Johnston pegs the figure at about $70 billion.

The “business climate” game—with corporate taxes slashed ever lower, accompanied by reductions in taxes for the investor class—inevitably shifts the tax burden to homeowners and small businesses lacking the size and resources to claim subsidies.

Now the backlash against the corporate tax cuts has arrived—and it is being channeled not against the “free market”-preaching CEOs whose firms have actually benefited richly, but against public employees whose pay is actually lower than similarly-educated private-sector counterparts. ..............(more)

The complete piece is at: http://inthesetimes.com/working/entry/11735/public_unions_urgently_need_to_re-frame_business_climate_game/

Is that the tax breaks only go to big businesses. I don't have a problem if a state cuts taxes for everyone, but what they do is give large companies huge, specific, tax breaks and subsidies that small businesses don't get. The result is the increasing destruction of the standard businessman in favor of the large and politically connected.

When I say "I don't have a problem if a state cuts taxes for everyone" I don't mean that I am for it, but states have the legit right to set tax policy. Favoring some businesses over others, however, ought to be totally illegal.

In just a short time: He is proud to announce that
He has received MOST BUSINESS FRIENDLY STATE status
from Business Organizations. AND Wall ST has restored
Ohio's Credit Rating--removing it from watch status.

His emphasis is BUSINESS Friendly.

To accomplish this if you consider it an accomplishment He
pushed Union Busting, Big Layoffs Teachers Police, Firemen
and workers at all levels. INCREASED Unemployment for the
state and therefore the Nation.
Pay cuts. Took from Middle Class to maintain taxcuts for
Upper Incomers and gave Businesses taxcuts and subsidies.

Kasich is not shy about telling you, Right To Work state
is the only way to go. He believes the states have to
compete with each other for businesses. You have to be
able to offer them no regulation, CHEAP LABOR, and tax
incentives.

He describes it a little more veiled. Companies move
their companies out of Ohio to Right to Work States.

There is hope even if a glimmer. He so roiled the citizens
that they are putting collective Bargaining on the ballot
in the next election. The Organizations(Unions and Activists)
were able to bring in 3 times the required signatures
to put Collective Bargaining on the ballot.

All kinds of regressive legislation going on here in
Ohio, but they have awakened the citizens who are fighting
back. Voter Suppression laws, yes there is a group
organized working to repeal some of these.

Kasich approval are very low but you betcha he is
featured on MTP.

This Business Friendly Mantra is taking place all over
the country. Ohio has citizens who think and see the
dangers and therefore are putting up a fight.

Business took over this country along time ago. I fear
the Beltway Crowd is so disconnected they do not realize
what is happening

This tells us we are in for a long time of unemployment.
Cuts equal Layoffs. Lower Wages means Lower standards of
Living.

Watch out--they are now redefining who is poor in order
to make the puzzle fit. "I guess you know there is not
as many really poor people as the Left would have you
believe." Direct quote from a Heritage Foundation
guest on Fox Business yesterday.

And the entire world is being damaged by it.