Amazon has declared war on Californians who depend on California Government funding/services such as Teachers, Seniors, Minorities, Police officers, Freeway Drivers, Water Drinkers, Parents, Small Business Owners - in short just about everyone in California will be hurt if Amazon gets its selfish way.
On 6/29 Amazon sent two emails to their 10,000 associates in CA threatening-blaming-attacking the Governor. The emails terminated with only a few hours notice the 10,000 Associates long standing business relationships with Amazon. The first paragraph of the two Amazon emails declaring war on California follow:
Hello,
For well over a decade, the Amazon Associates Program has worked with thousands of California residents. Unfortunately, a potential new law that may be signed by Governor Brown compels us to terminate this program for California-based participants. It specifically imposes the collection of taxes from consumers on sales by online retailers - including but not limited to those referred by California-based marketing affiliates like you - even if those retailers have no physical presence in the state.
Hello,
Unfortunately, Governor Brown has signed into law the bill that we emailed you about earlier today. As a result of this, contracts with all California residents participating in the Amazon Associates Program are terminated effective today, June 29, 2011. Those California residents will no longer receive advertising fees for sales referred to Amazon.com, Endless.com, MYHABIT.COM or SmallParts.com. Please be assured that all qualifying advertising fees earned before today will be processed and paid in full in accordance with the regular payment schedule.
The War was declared and the initiative to stop the CA law was filed for signature collection on July 7, 2011.
On July 18, 2011 CA Attorney general published this summary of the measure to be used to collect signatures and later the ballot summary and pamphlet.
The Attorney General of California has prepared the following title and summary of the chief purpose and points of the proposed measure:
REFERENDUM TO OVERTURN LAW REQUIRING INTERNET RETAILERS TO
COLLECT SAME SALES OR USE TAXES AS OTHER RETAILERS.
If signed by the required number of registered voters and filed with the Secretary of State, this petition will place on the statewide ballot a challenge to an existing state law. The law must be approved by voters at the next statewide election to remain in effect. The law expands the definition of retailers considered “engaged in business” in California to include certain Internet retailers selling to California consumers, so that out-of-state Internet retailers also collect existing sales or use taxes. (11-0019)7/18 AG Press Release
The Sacramento Bee succinctly reported on Amazon on 7/15/2011.
Under Assembly Bill X1 28, a bill passed by Democratic lawmakers and signed by Gov. Jerry Brown last month, major online retailers would be required to collect sales taxes on purchases by Californians. Democrats believe the proposal would raise $200 million in the first year.
Amazon filed papers this month [7/8/2011] to overturn the new online tax collection law. If the Seattle-based company can gather enough signatures for a referendum and survive a legal challenge, Amazon ($96 billion market value) would square off against retail giant Wal-Mart ($186 billion) in the June 2012 election.
Other Fortune 500 retailers and labor groups would also join the fray over whether the most populous state in the nation should force online stores to collect taxes on purchases. Sacramento Bee 7/15/2011
today's poll data below the fold
initial Sacramento Bee poll results:
What do California voters dislike more - higher taxes or businesses trying not to pay taxes?
It's difficult to say for now. A new poll from the University of Southern California and the Los Angeles Times shows 46 percent of voters favor the new "Amazon tax" approved by lawmakers and Gov. Jerry Brown as part of the state budget deal. On the other hand, 49 percent op- posed the measure to tax online sales.
Read more:Sacramento Bee 7/23/2011
The poll found that opinions were guided, in part, by how people shop. Among those who said they do most of their shopping online, three-fifths opposed the online tax.
Four-fifths of voters do most of their shopping the old fashioned way - at a store. They are split on the tax, 48 percent in favor to 45 percent opposed.
Read more: Sacramento Bee 7/23/2011
DETAILED POLL RESULTS