Hackney not bothered by Amazon

"Ridicule" isn't an apt characterization of the quote you cited.

You need better ammunition when you're shooting at a saint, fella'.

Keep scrambling.

Quoth Saint Joe:

"House Democrats responded honestly, forthrightly and without demagoguery to do the extremely difficult job of balancing our state's budget. Our Republican counterparts stood on the sidelines and refused to cut spending or raise revenue; they just said no to every option."

A statement Hackney made fully knowing Republicans haven't been given a choice and will never be given a say as long as Hugh Holliman, Marc Basnight and Tony Rand run the GA.

Aw, why all the worry about Hackney. I feel bad for the guy, honestly. Democrat leadership surely has his family jewels in a box under lock and key. I just wish he'd flex this "independence" and "fairness" more often.

Joe Hackney is also one of the most effective speakers, and is widely respected by everyone who works with him, both Republican and Democrat.

Your charge that he works to prevent Republicans from having a say is untrue, which is why both Republican and Democrat party activists acknowledge that he is also the most fairminded speaker we've had in a hundred years.

I am unaware of any instance of his openly (or privately) ridiculing anyone.

Finally, Joe Hackney is not carrying any cards for anyone, owes no one any favors, and is among the most ethical public servants you'll find anywhere in government, whether at local, state or federal levels.

Joe Hackney is the most independent Democrat Speaker that this state has had in 100 years. I'll agree to that.

He isn't, however, willing to challenge the machine as it exists. He allows the Democrat machine enough breathing room to work, and does everything he can prevent Republicans from having a say - and indeed, to ridicule them openly.

For those reasons, he might as well be a card-carrying member of the Red-Shirt Democrats.

Anyone who thinks Hackney is part of a machine has a lot to learn about the party machine and much, much more to learn about Joe Hackney.

Efforts to paint Hackney as part of a machine or as beholden to anyone other than his contituents demonstrate a startling ignorance on the part of such accusers.

Insiders from both parties know this.

Exactly. People who've lived here a total of 10 or less years really don't understand a dang thing about this state's government. Until the machine is kicked out, there will be no goodness or ethics in state government.

If you moved here since Jim Hunt left office, then read Rob Christensen's book "The Paradox of Tar Heel Politics" and reconsider before voting for another stupid machine candidate. Otherwise, what you know about politics is useless, and you're better off absentee voting in New York or Ohio.

Hackney's comments remind me of the old days of the powerful Democratic Machine. When I hear bravado like this I can hear the machine's engine quietly idling in the background. But if you have all that power in the engine you might as well put it to the floorboard every once in a while and show them who's boss.

playbyplay says:
"If states could come up with a system that was less complex across all states, then we could maybe talk about having a tax on internet purchases. But as long as every state has its own ever changing tax rules, I can’t see how a company who is not part of the physical commerce in the state can be required to keep up."

Fantastic idea -- already done!
http://www.streamlinedsalestax.org/
NC is one of 22 states in an interstate compact to avoid your nightmares.

Typical strong arm tactics that the citizens of North Carolina have learned to love......or least live with. The Democratic leadership can say what they want to say and with any tone they choose.

You complainers would be better served to learn to open wide when something is being rammed down your throat. Language like this is just scratching the surface as to how this state is really run.

Poor CitOp. You make yourself sillier with each post, particularly when it comes to commenting on Hackney. Ya still got nothin' on him, and ya ain't gonna get nothin'. Here's a hankie.

The courts have already spoken and they said it is not reasonable for businesses to be required to keep up with the over 4000+ tax rules that are different in every state and constantly changing if they do not have a physical presence there. Don’t be fooled by the way this story is presented. If you go to polo’s website or Barnes & Noble’s website, you pay taxes on those purchases. To act like all internet commerce is using shady loopholes to try and evade paying taxes is false.

The burden of compliance for this would be outrages. Say when the state decides to have a tax holiday and the many business who do not have a physical location in the state now collect taxes illegally because there are too many floating variables to always collect it correctly, what would the head line be. “Big Corporation stealing millions from North Carolina citizens.” Beyond big corporations, what about the small companies who sell items over the internet but are not located in NC, will they have to hire a team of lawyers and accountants to keep up with 50 states worth of laws on collecting taxes in case someone from any other state happens to find the website and buy a product.

Imagine the documentation that would be required for a small business to collect and file the proper paper work for every state. I know keeping up with all the tax requirements in just one state can be overwhelming. It would be at least 50+ different forms, due at different times for different tax rates. Not including all the special exceptions that politicians love to put into the tax code for their friends. What a mess that would turn into.

If states could come up with a system that was less complex across all states, then we could maybe talk about having a tax on internet purchases. But as long as every state has its own ever changing tax rules, I can’t see how a company who is not part of the physical commerce in the state can be required to keep up.

It always seems that politicians will go to such great lengths to come up with some new way to raise more money, maybe they could spend more time on how to use the money they have more efficiently.

Joe should be ashamed at this comment, there are real NC citizens who make a living and pay taxes because of the internet and to just dismiss them after giving a huge tax break to Apple for a few jobs just seems apathetic/dismissive towards the concerns of citizens in NC.

Joe Hackney ran unopposed. He needs no coattails.

Um, Rob? Yeah, Stevie wrote that song about Richard Nixon...

Isaac - the reason people choose to direct attacks at Hackney is because he is the speaker of the house and a liberal member at that... He campaigned, as did all Democrats, on the coattails of President Obama, who has lied to us, and continues to promotes Obama's agenda.

Stimulus Not Work:Why is Vice President Biden Suprised?

Until the Democrats realize that they need to stay away from Obama then Hackney should face the wrath of the people...

I thought you alluded to the fact that you were politically in touch...

We are amazed but not amused
By all the things you say that you'll do
Though much concerned but not involved
With decisions that are made by you

But we are sick and tired of hearing your song
Telling how you are gonna change right from wrong
'Cause if you really want to hear our views
"You haven't done nothing"!

It's not too cool to be ridiculed
But you brought this upon yourself
The world is tired of pacifiers
We want the truth and nothing else

And we are sick and tired of hearing your song
Telling how you are gonna change right from wrong
'Cause if you really want to hear our views
"You haven't done nothing"!

We would not care to wake up to the nightmare
That's becoming real life
But when mislead who knows a person's mind
Can turn as cold as ice

Why do you keep on making us hear your song
Telling us how you are changing right from wrong
'Cause if you really want to hear our views
"You haven't done nothing"!

Joe Hackney will be remembered in NC history books and by anyone who has a smattering of knowledge about politics in North Carolina as one of the finest, most intelligent, ethical and able men ever to serve this great state.

These ridiculous and petty attacks against him are as weak as they are because the GOP has NOTHING on the guy. Keep trying, ya poor saps!

Meanwhile, those of us who do pay attention to politics and who do know the players are extremely gratified to know that in "the peoples' house," an honest, shrewd, and effective public servant holds the speaker's gavel.

So what Sharrison is saying ladies and gentleman - the Democrats having watched some of their own escape paying taxes - like Timmy Geitner and Tommy Daschle - and they want their piece of the pie so that now Amazon will be forced to leave and hurt more North Carolinians...

So what happens if I did declare the sales tax - how is this fair to me?

Just playing devils advocate!

RangerMatt, the core of this issue is not about reporting/paying taxes on earnings (income), it's about getting Amazon to collect the sales taxes that North Carolina requires on all purchases, not just the affiliates' transactions. Just like they already do for Kansas, Kentucky, New York, North Dakota, and Washington. North Carolina's sales taxes are just as legitimate as those other states' taxes, and if Amazon can collect theirs, collecting ours wouldn't be that big of a deal.

So the question is: why do they not want to cooperate? The answer is easy. Most of their competition has to collect the tax, so by refusing to do so, Amazon can sell you the book (or whatever) cheaper, giving them an unfair advantage over their competition. In reality, it's not cheaper, because you are supposed to pay the sales tax anyway, but Amazon and everybody else knows that will never happen.

This is not about Amazon having to pay a tax, or consumers being forced to pay some new tax. It's about legitimate revenues not collected, and a company that takes advantage of laws and court decisions to facilitate tax fraud and gain an edge on their competitors. Plain. And. Simple.

Speaker Joe quoted as saying: "Amazon has a history of acting that way. I think they did that in New York and then they backed off and reversed themselves so I’m not sure we should take that too seriously. I have my own way of dealing with it, which is I just won’t deal with Amazon," Hackney told Binker.

".......a history of acting that way......."
"......and then backed off and reversed themselves......."

Sounds just like North Carolina politics to me. Amazon and North Carolina are a natural twosome. They ought to move here because they would fit right in!

"........and then backed off and reversed themselves....." Could that be the definition of a campaign promise?

So taking actions that encourage businesses to leave NC is ok with this guy? Wouldn't it have been better on everyone to simply be more proactive in making sure that the people in NC were reporting those earnings like they should have? That way everyone's happy, Amazon doesn't have to deal with any tax collection liabilities, NC gets their money, and people that don't play by the rules get punished. Everyone wins. Now, we have one less source of tax money coming in, some people who depend on that money for their business are going to leave and take that tax money to another state, and everyone loses.

The Hack sounds inept. Taking your ball and going home is a great technique so long as your not into playing with others.

Favored companies get massive tax breaks amidst hearty compliments while others are disrespected? Where's your head at boy? You spent a lot of money to play this game and yet, you're so bad at it(4th qtr 2008 = over $900K)
http://www.app.sboe.state.nc.us/webapps/cf_rpt_search/cf_report_detail.aspx?RID=96419&TP=SUM
see: total expenditures.

This hack sounds more like an expensive puppet instead of an elected rep. I suppose $900K makes acting like a fool worth it - for a hack.

Thanks for taking us along on your ride of insanity, and be sure to let us know when you need more money, sounds like you can't get enough. Or as they say in the "Paid political announcement" world - let us know when your master tugs for the money.

Pretty safe bet that Amazon does not employ the best lobbyists in Raleigh. Good lobbyists would have eased this situation over and everyone would live happily ever after.

Some folks like myself have small businesses and affiliate programs to supplement our business and in turn our income. So, Amazon leaves and Hackney "deals with it" by having a flippant attitude. Brilliant! Of course I shouldn't expect much from someone who thinks raising taxes during a recession is a good idea.

So, Amazon leaves then others follow, next thing you know there's nothing to tax. No big deal for Hackney? He and Bev will just raise taxes on something else to cover the shortfall. Well for those of us who use the affiliates programs just lost part of our income. In the real world, where we work for a living if your income is cut, we have to cut back. We do not have the luxury of walking into our business and *demanding* more money like you in the legislature do.

Elections cannot get here soon enough to vote all incumbents out of office.

Comment deleted for inappropriate language. — BN

Yeah. I mean who takes putting people out of work that seriously. Especially when unemployment is already 11%. Seriously.

Hackney reportedly said: "I have my own way of dealing with it, which is I just won’t deal with Amazon."

Joe's doing it his own way reminds me of ol' Frank Sinatra singing "I did it my way:"

"I planned each charted course;
Each careful step along the byway,
But more, much more than this,
I did it my way."

What do we care about Amazon! North Carolina - Love it or leave it!!!!!!!!!! That's the spirit. Go git 'em, Joe.