About 2 months after the "tax exemption" idea for the flailing print media industry was proposed by Senator Benjamin Gardin (D-MD), Washington Governor Chris Gregoire has approved a tax break for her state's newspapers.
From The Seattle Times:
Gov. Chris Gregoire has approved a tax break for the state's troubled newspaper industry.The new law gives newspaper printers and publishers a 40 percent cut in the state's main business tax. The discounted rate mirrors breaks given in years past to the Boeing Co. and the timber industry.
Newspapers across the country have resorted to layoffs and other cost-cutting moves to deal with a wounded business model and a recession-fueled drop in advertising.
The Seattle Post-Intelligencer printed its final edition earlier this year and was converted to an Internet-only publication with a much-reduced staff.
In addition to this, Senator John Kerry (D-Mess) held a hearing on May 6th to promote the very same tax breaks and "non-profit" status for the print media industry, no doubt fueled by his hometown newspaper, the Boston Globe, and it's horrific, self-inflicted financial troubles.
This is just a smaller, different version of a targeted "bailout". One which will help to preserve the survival of a liberal propaganda machine.
It's particularly ironic that Democrats who are so repulsed by tax-cuts for "big business" are so charitable when it comes to one industry which is so supportive of them.
Just how much further away are we from a full-scale financial bail-out of this transparently liberal biased institution, one which has carried the weight and water of democrats and their political allies for decades.
The "Fairness Doctrine" is right around the corner.
Comments (15)
"Washington Governor Chris ... (Below threshold)1. Posted by Michael Laprarie | May 13, 2009 6:38 PM | Score: 7 (7 votes cast)
"Washington Governor Chris Gregoire has approved a tax break for his state's newspapers"
It's Christine Gregoire, actually -- "her newspapers".
1. Posted by Michael Laprarie | May 13, 2009 6:38 PM |
Score: 7 (7 votes cast)
Posted on May 13, 2009 18:38
2. Posted by Shawn | May 13, 2009 6:42 PM | Score: 6 (6 votes cast)
Thanks Mike.
Fixed.
2. Posted by Shawn | May 13, 2009 6:42 PM |
Score: 6 (6 votes cast)
Posted on May 13, 2009 18:42
3. Posted by Jason | May 13, 2009 6:42 PM | Score: 12 (14 votes cast)
This is the most dangerous bailout of all. Democrats already have the media in submission. This problem will become markedly worse when the Dems gain financial control of the media.
http://www.rightklik.net/
3. Posted by Jason | May 13, 2009 6:42 PM |
Score: 12 (14 votes cast)
Posted on May 13, 2009 18:42
4. Posted by P. Bunyan | May 13, 2009 7:02 PM | Score: 12 (14 votes cast)
They've already given one arm of their campaign staff, Acorn, a few billions, why not give a few billion more of our money to this other arm of the Democrat campain staff.
I love being forced to pay for my opponents political campaigns. I can see why Michelle is, for the first time in her adult life, proud to be an American.
4. Posted by P. Bunyan | May 13, 2009 7:02 PM |
Score: 12 (14 votes cast)
Posted on May 13, 2009 19:02
5. Posted by bill-tb | May 13, 2009 7:26 PM | Score: 13 (15 votes cast)
Yes but don't they still need readers. Are they going to try and buy readers next?
5. Posted by bill-tb | May 13, 2009 7:26 PM |
Score: 13 (15 votes cast)
Posted on May 13, 2009 19:26
6. Posted by marc | May 13, 2009 7:56 PM | Score: 11 (15 votes cast)
bill-tb - "Yes but don't they still need readers. Are they going to try and buy readers next?"
If that's the case where do I sign-up?
The Seattle Post-Intelligencer, among others, will fit nicely in my bird cage and under my cat as she squats.
6. Posted by marc | May 13, 2009 7:56 PM |
Score: 11 (15 votes cast)
Posted on May 13, 2009 19:56
7. Posted by iwogisdead | May 13, 2009 8:03 PM | Score: 10 (12 votes cast)
Newspapers. Newspapers.
Sorry, what are "newspapers?"
7. Posted by iwogisdead | May 13, 2009 8:03 PM |
Score: 10 (12 votes cast)
Posted on May 13, 2009 20:03
8. Posted by GarandFan | May 13, 2009 9:11 PM | Score: 8 (10 votes cast)
I can see tax cuts for businesses that produce something of use. But newspapers? It goes from me, to the bird cage, to the trash.
8. Posted by GarandFan | May 13, 2009 9:11 PM |
Score: 8 (10 votes cast)
Posted on May 13, 2009 21:11
9. Posted by Tim | May 13, 2009 9:13 PM | Score: 7 (9 votes cast)
So where are the libs squawking about Corporate Welfare? Beuller? Bueller??
9. Posted by Tim | May 13, 2009 9:13 PM |
Score: 7 (9 votes cast)
Posted on May 13, 2009 21:13
10. Posted by ODA315 | May 13, 2009 11:18 PM | Score: 4 (6 votes cast)
I'm sure this will futher spur on the Times and PI to be even MORE non-partison.
10. Posted by ODA315 | May 13, 2009 11:18 PM |
Score: 4 (6 votes cast)
Posted on May 13, 2009 23:18
11. Posted by kawaika | May 14, 2009 6:13 AM | Score: 2 (2 votes cast)
"It's particularly ironic that Democrats who are so repulsed by tax-cuts for "big business" are so charitable when it comes to one industry which is so supportive of them."
Ironic? As a certain Spaniard would say "You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means."
11. Posted by kawaika | May 14, 2009 6:13 AM |
Score: 2 (2 votes cast)
Posted on May 14, 2009 06:13
12. Posted by Mark L | May 14, 2009 9:14 AM | Score: 5 (5 votes cast)
Ya gotta wonder how many Washington State businesses -- breweries, department stores, and dry cleaners -- are going to start a "newspaper" to reduce their business taxes 40%
Have to base the cut on newspaper sales? No prob -- free suit dry cleaned for every paper purchased at $5.95.
12. Posted by Mark L | May 14, 2009 9:14 AM |
Score: 5 (5 votes cast)
Posted on May 14, 2009 09:14
13. Posted by TOhio | May 14, 2009 12:08 PM | Score: 5 (5 votes cast)
The next Tea Party needs to be held in front of the media organization that is going to get a bailout. We can't let this happen without a fight!
13. Posted by TOhio | May 14, 2009 12:08 PM |
Score: 5 (5 votes cast)
Posted on May 14, 2009 12:08
14. Posted by _Mike_ | May 14, 2009 12:42 PM | Score: 6 (6 votes cast)
Even if you're in favor of this (which I'm not), here's the danger...
If enacted, you now have news media that should fear losing their tax favored status if they anger the wrong politician. Thus, newspapers would have a disincentive for publicizing the wrong doings of politicians. Effectively, this increases government influence over the press. Bad idea in numerous ways.
14. Posted by _Mike_ | May 14, 2009 12:42 PM |
Score: 6 (6 votes cast)
Posted on May 14, 2009 12:42
15. Posted by Mike G in Corvallis | May 14, 2009 4:13 PM | Score: 4 (4 votes cast)
Of course, now the government has to determine which publications are "newspapers" and which ones aren't. Is the Seattle Weekly a newspaper? Is The Stranger?
And you can just bet that reporters and editors will think twice before they risk their "accreditation" by criticizing the politicians who give them their tax exemptions.
As I am fond of quoting, "Well sure, the government lies. And the newspapers lie. But in a democracy they aren't the same lies."
15. Posted by Mike G in Corvallis | May 14, 2009 4:13 PM |
Score: 4 (4 votes cast)
Posted on May 14, 2009 16:13