[Peace-discuss] [sf-core] Re: [OccupyCU] AMMONS vs. ROSENBERG Debate Results

[David Johnson]

Carl,

I am opposed to corporate subsidies unless they provide good paying 
full-time jobs or some other direct, quality, verifiable benefit to the 
community.
I would prefer no corporate subsidies and instead give subsidies only to 
worker owned and operated cooperative, but at this point anyway, that is 
probably the best that can happen. For Now anyway.

I totaly agree with Durl's report and in fact read it on the World Labor 
Hour last Saturday. If I was on the city Council I would have opposed ALL of 
the recent corporate subsidies given by the city ;

1) Worden Martin Car Dealership - pay your own moving expenses. If they want 
to move their dealership to Danville or Decatur, go for it !

2) Hyatt Hotel in downtown Champaign -
NO !  If you don't build, some other hotel chain will since it is the 
downtown Champaign nightlife area that attracts visitors and tourists NOT 
your hotel.

3) Kraft Foods - That is a current employer with over 1300 jobs. Not such an 
easy decision, however, I would have stated that they need to eliminate all 
of their part-time temp help at minimum wage and hire full time help at a 
minimum starting pay of  $ 15.00 per hour with regular annual wage increases 
up to $ 25.00 per hour within four years and provide health care for free. 
Otherwise go somewhere else. They would probably not move since that is very 
expensive, but regardless Kraft should have been a negotiated line in the 
sand if they wanted the 3.5 million dollars. But of course Gerard and the 
other corporate hacks on the council just handed over the money and 
propogated Kraft's propoganda that they supposedly in this university city 
not find competant employees who are qualified...bullshit !

So i agree with Carol's technology zone plan because as I posted in the last 
e-mail,  it has specific conditions that must be met in regards to full time 
above living wage employment, BUT, I do agree with you Carl that any such 
future program MUST be transparent and open to public scrutinity in each and 
every case before any money is handed over.
Also, Carol calls for a progressive income tax ( she had a hand out for that 
too last night with specific tax percentages for income levels.) So that 
corresponds to your policy suggestions.

In terms of the Illinois Universal healthcare Act ( H.B. 942 ) and the IL. 
House Bill to disolve the Illinois Charter school commission I have yet to 
hear Carol's opinion. But I cannot imagine her being opposed.

So again, we could do a LOT worse with Rosenberg and his proposed policies.
Not to mention, I have known Carol for over ten years, so I do know her 
track record. Rosenberg is a corporate attorney who takes poor people to 
court to collect unpaid hospital bills.
Not to mention, the News Gazette and the Democratic party establishment ( 
Laurel Prussing, Naomi Jackobsen, Steve Becket, JUlia Rietz ) are all 
opposing and attacking Carol.
THat alone would be reason enough for me to support her.

David Johnson





----- Original Message ----- 
From: "C. G. Estabrook" <carl at newsfromneptune.com>
To: "David Johnson" <davidjohnson1451 at comcast.net>
Cc: "sf-core" <sf-core at yahoogroups.com>; "Peace-discuss" 
<peace-discuss at lists.chambana.net>; <occupycu at lists.chambana.net>
Sent: Thursday, February 06, 2014 9:39 AM
Subject: Re: [sf-core] Re: [OccupyCU] AMMONS vs. ROSENBERG Debate Results


David--

As you know, "enterprise zones" are a neoliberal technique, originally 
proposed by 'supply-side' economists. Their current proponents acknowledge 
successful criticism by looking for newer, more marketable names - e.g., 
"technology zones."

It's not clear that states and municipalities should be competing to give 
breaks to corporate entities on the threat that they might move away and 
take jobs - or on the promise to bring them. See e.g., Durl Kruse' letter 
(attached) regarding the Champaign City Council's "Tax Increment Financing 
District" that will give Kraft "a $3.6 million tax subsidy to build a new 
warehouse."

Durl writes, "One must wonder if this TIF project represents the flexing of 
corporate muscle by threatening the community 'not to build if not 
approved,' and when given the opportunity, to directly manipulate TIF laws 
for corporate gain at taxpayers' expense."

Clearly, the supposed benefits of such a program should generalize. You can 
make an argument for "an across the board corporate tax cut" to promote 
trade and employment. Such business taxes should be replaced with taxes on 
concentrated wealth and speculation - i.e., taxes on investable assets, and 
Tobin taxes.

Given the entrenched (non-democratic) political power of capital, wealth 
taxes and Tobin taxes are not on the horizon in Illinois, unfortunately. 
(The Democrats should of course be opposed on this point.) The best we can 
do in the near future seems to be  a progressive income tax and social 
subsidies, including perhaps the state single-payer system that you've been 
working for.

Regards, CGE


On Feb 5, 2014, at 10:21 PM, David Johnson <davidjohnson1451 at comcast.net> 
wrote:

>
> The differnce is that Rosenberg supports an across the board corporate tax 
> cut with no conditions.
>
> Carol Ammons " Technology Zone Program " gives a tax break to a company 
> ONLY if  a company ;
>
> 1) increases employment by the greater of 10 % of its current workforce or 
> a minimum of 3 new full-time employees
>
> 2) Pays wages of 20 % or more above the median income of Champaign County
>
> 3) Employ a minimum of 5 full-time employees
>
> Not to mention that Rosenberg is an attorney who works for Carle Clinic 
> and takes poor and elderly people to court for not paying hospital bills.
>
> Carol has been a community activist for over a decade, opposing the : 
> Police, States Attorney and other local officials / vested interests at 
> times when necessary in the pursuit of social justice.
>
> Again, the choice is clear to me who would be the better advocate for 
> Working people in the 103rd District
>
> David Johnson
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: C. G. Estabrook
> To: David Johnson
> Cc: <"Undisclosed-Recipient:;"@mail0.frost.chambana.net>
> Sent: Wednesday, February 05, 2014 9:29 PM
> Subject: Re: [OccupyCU] AMMONS vs. ROSENBERG Debate Results
>
> Didn't Carol support 'enterprise zones' (under another name), which are 
> even more substantial corporate tax cats - for favored corporations?
>
>
> On Feb 5, 2014, at 9:24 PM, David Johnson <davidjohnson1451 at comcast.net> 
> wrote:
>
>> I just returned from the Ammons vs. Rosenberg debate, for the   Illinois 
>> 103rd State Rep Democratic Primary race.
>>
>> The major differences between the two candidates were ;
>>
>> Rosenberg SUPPORTS cutting corporate taxes and OPPOSES the $ 15.00 per 
>> hour minimum wage.
>>
>> Carol Ammons in contrast OPPOSES cutting corporate taxes and SUPPORTS the 
>> $ 15.00 per hour minimum wage.
>>
>> Rosenberg also stated that Carol Ammons experience in local government on 
>> the County Board and the Urbana City Council does NOT make her more 
>> qualified than him in terms of experience.
>> He stated that ;
>>  " Springfield is a different BEAST than local government and I am more 
>> qualified to deal with that."
>>
>> The difference could not be any clearer to me.
>>
>> What was also interesting was that I submitted TWO questions for the 
>> candidates, first via e-mail several days before the debate and early on 
>> at the debate.
>> Neither question was asked !
>>
>> The questions were ;
>>
>> 1) Would you be willing to co-sponsor the current House Bill to enact a 
>> universal health care system in Illinois ( H.B. 942 ).
>>
>> and
>>
>> 2) Would you co-sponsor House Bill H.B. 3754 that would dissolve the 
>> Illinois Charter School Commision
>>
>> I wonder why the Moderators avoided asking these questions ?
>>
>> David Johnson




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