Open letter to Governor Ritter:
Dear Governor Ritter:
I read your statement in response to Amazon.com’s decision to end its relationship with Colorado affiliates. I, too, am disappointed, not with Amazon but with your response. Can you please finish up your time as Governor with a bit of intellectual honesty?
You are the Governor, and you have to do what you think is right. You made a decision to request then sign this House Bill 1193, along with several other bills raising taxes on certain activities. The business community in general and Amazon in particular told you that it was not a good idea, but you insisted it was necessary. If you felt it was necessary, be proud of your decision.
A better statement from you would have been:
I made the decision to sign House Bill 1193 even after being advised by the business community that it would have a negative impact. I determined that the potential gain of $5 million in additional tax revenue was worth the risk that some businesses might be hurt or even leave Colorado.
I am sorry that Amazon.com felt the need to end its relationship with Colorado associates, but that was their business decision to make. I am sorry for the jobs that may be lost, but I believe that the State will recoup sufficient revenue to make up for the loss of income in those businesses that are affected.
Unfortunately this is not the first time you have laid blame for the consequences of your decisions as Governor at the feet of others. Remember the oil and gas rules? Perhaps there you could have said:
I understand that these rules may result in a decrease in drilling activity in Colorado, but I am convinced that the environmental protections we gained are worth the potential loss of jobs and revenue.
Stop trying to portray the business community in a bad light to try to rationalize your actions. You made a decision with the facts presented to you, which is your duty as Governor.
Man up, Governor, and accept the credit and responsibility for your decisions.
Posts
Ouch, Bob. Harsh rebuke for our Governor. Perhaps there's a kernel of truth...dare I say wisdom...in your sentiment.
ReplyDeleteStill, it seems an awful lot like dealing with the guy at the poker table on the big stack. He has the wherewithall to bully his opponents, even when he's sitting on seven-deuce. He can push the small guys around through sheer will of force, not because he's in a better position.
Or, in the case of Amazon, not because they're right.
Amazon has acted reprehensibly in and is using its affiliates--honest, hard-working Coloradans--to make a political statement. What's worse, they're blaming our good Governor and the democratic-led legislature for their decision.
Hmmm...sounds rather like the very thing over which you're scolding the Governor.
Goose or gander, anyone?
Many people feel as you do, David, that Amazon is just being mean, but that misses the point. Legislators and the Governor have sought their offices so that they can make these types of decisions. At this time in this State, the Governor and his controlling party in the legislature have the votes to make these decisions. They should only be defensive if they are concerned that they may have made the wrong decision. The Governor and Senator Morse and others simply need to say "We made what we believe is the right decision for Colorado."
ReplyDeleteThere may be other companies that have made decisions similar to Amazon's. Many of our LWC members have been adversely affected by these tax bills. We don't know what other companies have decided to reduce operations or not expand here because of the bills that passed. Amazon did them a favor by taking the heat.
I do not believe that Amazon is any more evil for not wanting to be the tax collector than the legislature and Governor are for wanting to further tax good, hard-working Coloradans. (The discussion of what is good tax policy I will save for another day.) Neither is evil; both are making decisions that are right for their interests.
I also suspect that there is more at play with Amazon than just picking on poor Colorado. It is a world-wide company. Setting up the software is a huge expense, and every state is different. I think that perhaps Amazon is not speaking just to Colorado, but to many other states that are considering an internet tax.
Bob