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Makes sense, but that explains why it's criticized as government spending: Because it is. Joel Send a noteboard - 22/08/2011 07:20:15 PM
At least, from what I can tell. Is the refund for sales tax in addition to the grant?

But you're the auditor, not I; I only copied and pasted the article and then did a few quick googles after you pointed out the sales tax deal.

Though according to the website, it still has to meet similar standards, i.e. capital investment, etc. And just like the sales tax refund, it talks about how long the jobs must be maintained (3 years, btw). So it looks like the state can recoup some grant money if jobs are not maintained (same thing for the sales tax refund).

Basically, we (and I do mean, "we"; our tax dollars at work, as they say) are paying companies to make money they would have made anyway, simply because they're operating out of TX. That's long seemed a dubious deal to me, particularly when you make tax breaks a major part of the incentive. Why? Because I remember when Austin was bidding with Portland for the privilege of a new Samsung plant 20 years ago. At the end of the process I turned on the local news (back then I still occasionally watched some local news) to see the anchors sighing wistfully as they announced Portland had just increased their previous offer to five years of 100% property tax breaks and 80% sales tax breaks. Within a day or two they announced Austin had topped their offer and won the plant, which left me wondering What did they offer to beat THAT, and is Austin charging Samsung ANY taxes on their huge new plant?

So, yeah, that explains why a die hard conservative (but never a die hard Republican... *glances down* :P) might criticize it as wasteful government spending, and why a critic of corruption might criticize grants going to companies closely tied to the governor (makes you wonder if Merck or Cintra got any TEF money. ;))
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This message last edited by Joel on 22/08/2011 at 08:43:45 PM
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Is Rick Perry the GOPs Future--or Americas New Reality? Joel - 22/08/2011 04:34:38 PM 709 Views
far left rags don't like Rick Perry, now that is a shocker *NM* random thoughts - 22/08/2011 05:11:00 PM 132 Views
Big picture, man. Joel - 22/08/2011 05:21:23 PM 292 Views
sorry I fell asleep somewhere in the middle of HPV vaccinations random thoughts - 22/08/2011 05:46:55 PM 411 Views
When she starts talking about what supporters will do to opponents, that comparison will work. Joel - 22/08/2011 06:13:24 PM 460 Views
no I just get tired of all the pissing and moaning about how mean republicans are random thoughts - 22/08/2011 06:28:13 PM 351 Views
Not playing the D/R game. Joel - 22/08/2011 06:32:15 PM 312 Views
Joel that is such BS random thoughts - 22/08/2011 06:47:52 PM 279 Views
Excuse me, but you're the only one citing mean attacks by either side against the other. Joel - 22/08/2011 06:59:37 PM 422 Views
did you hit your head Joel? random thoughts - 22/08/2011 07:32:10 PM 260 Views
Separate issue, but talking about what your supporters will do to people isn't very complex code. Joel - 22/08/2011 08:08:56 PM 327 Views
that argument only holds up if you ignore what he said and insert what you decided to hear *NM* random thoughts - 22/08/2011 08:37:26 PM 153 Views
The quote's on record and speaks for itself. Joel - 22/08/2011 08:41:19 PM 283 Views
I agree and it doesn't call on anyone to do anything to anyone random thoughts - 22/08/2011 10:17:59 PM 290 Views
You guys remind me of those two on the old Star Trek episode "Let This Be Your Last Battlefield". *NM* Tashmere - 23/08/2011 01:14:54 AM 159 Views
I remember that one. *NM* Vodalus - 23/08/2011 04:54:04 AM 146 Views
Riddle me fake left, riddle me fake right.... Joel - 23/08/2011 05:42:46 PM 291 Views
I work on Enterprise Zone audits Dark Knight - 22/08/2011 06:17:17 PM 307 Views
shhh this isn't about facts it is about emotions *NM* random thoughts - 22/08/2011 06:29:17 PM 141 Views
We're still talking public funds though. Joel - 22/08/2011 06:30:34 PM 418 Views
I don't understand the handing out part Dark Knight - 22/08/2011 06:39:15 PM 300 Views
It comes from the "grants" part. Joel - 22/08/2011 06:45:33 PM 446 Views
Hmm this grant must be different Dark Knight - 22/08/2011 06:58:20 PM 267 Views
That's what it sounds like. Joel - 22/08/2011 07:00:58 PM 296 Views
It looks like it Dark Knight - 22/08/2011 07:09:13 PM 331 Views
Makes sense, but that explains why it's criticized as government spending: Because it is. Joel - 22/08/2011 07:20:15 PM 395 Views
maybe it is just your understanding of consecrative thought that is flawed random thoughts - 22/08/2011 06:54:36 PM 322 Views
"Some Texas Tea Party activists have been especially critical of Perry's Enterprise Fund... " Joel - 22/08/2011 07:07:17 PM 466 Views
you keep quoting left wing journals to prove the positions of the right like it proves something random thoughts - 22/08/2011 07:30:02 PM 300 Views
Never mind. Joel - 22/08/2011 08:08:04 PM 292 Views
like I said come up with a better argument than "I must be right because someone elses said it too" *NM* random thoughts - 22/08/2011 08:38:31 PM 151 Views
No and No, and I don't need to read the articles to answer that. *NM* Tom - 23/08/2011 12:39:20 AM 166 Views
On a purely metaphorical level I think it works, at least the second part. Joel - 23/08/2011 05:14:07 PM 305 Views
You seem to think there's a huge conspiracy, generally. There isn't. Tom - 24/08/2011 06:33:27 AM 301 Views
Even if it's only a conspiracy of circumstance (increasingly hard to believe), it's real. Joel - 25/08/2011 03:37:26 PM 406 Views
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