Microsoft and CEO donate $500,000 to oppose state income tax

[Newsjock]

Source: The Stranger

As recent reports from the Washington State Public Disclosure Commission show, the Microsoft corporation has donated $75,000 to the campaign trying to block Initiative 1098, (a 2% state income tax on adjusted gross income over $200k) and company CEO Steve Ballmer has donated another $325,000 to defeat the measure (he's now given $425,000 altogether).

Never mind that this makes Ballmer, Microsoft, and the company's cadre of wealthy executives look like greedy schmucks—and this does make Microsoft look like a bastion for greedy schmucks—here's why you should care. Whenever Microsoft claims—as it does right here on its website and in its endless press briefings on the subject—that "Microsoft’s top public priority within Washington State has been our work to strengthen public education at both the K-12 and the higher education levels," you can say "no."

You can say, "No, Microsoft, you disingenuous hypocrites, public education isn't your top priority in Washington state."

Read more: http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2010/10/19/microsoft-donates-75000-to-oppose-i-1098-microsoft-ceo-donates-an-additional-325000

[Suich]

1. It's gonna get voted down.

Too bad, since we really need a state income tax, instead of the idiot sales tax. Problem is, the legislature won't lower the sales tax.

:shrug:

[rsmith6621]

2. Sorry I Can't Afford a WA State Income Tax...

Not when I pay 9.3% sales tax......If they want to do away with sales tax like Oregon and do 15% ICT then maybe I would be for it....

[Newsjock]

6. Applies only to gross income over $200k

Or $400k for couples. The state income tax rate for everyone else will be zero.

[ConsAreLiars]

12. If yoou get over $200.000 and plead poverty, then you are one dumbass jackass. (nt)

[mwooldri]

15. Legislature obviously can't legislate.

They've been elected to run the state.

IMO, asking the public "would you like to have a tax increase?" is always like asking turkeys to vote for Thanksgiving. Even if it is in the public good for taxes to be changed or increased, and even if the majority of the public won't even be affected by any tax increase.

If the MS CEO's of this world want to throw some money out at not getting taxed, well it can definitely be painted in a negative light... but in the main, people don't vote to increase taxes. That's something that the Repukes have been throwing at Democrats for years... "tax and spend... tax and spend", except Repukes are the party of "no tax, borrow and spend and have a war or two".

[awoke_in_2003]

3. education isn't a priority...

in any state in the union. And educated work force demands more money.

[drmeow]

4. worse yet

an educated population is better able to deconstruct and critically examine campaign ads and is more likely to vote thoughtfully. An educated population is less likely to put up with feudalism for long.

[awoke_in_2003]

5. exactly...

can you imagine a population full of "Dennis the peasants"? :)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dOOTKA0aGI0

This guy knew what was going on.

[drmeow]

20. I would LOVE

a population of "Dennis the peasants" - or at least a population with a higher proportion of them than we currently have!

Monty Python then, Jon Stewart now

The jesters have always said it like it is.

[Missy Vixen]

7. Considering the fact Bill Gates, Sr. is prominently featured in the advertising

this should be pretty comical.

The income tax is on those who make over $200K individually, and $400K per family. It affects less than 1% of Washington State's population. It also cannot be applied to any other group in this state without a vote of the people.

In the meantime, it's all about the dollar for Microsoft. Wonder how Bill's dad feels about that.

[uppityperson]

8. Is BG Sr on the pro or con ads? Thanks.

[Missy Vixen]

9. He's in the pro ads

IIRC, he helped write the legislation. He's very supportive of education in this state.

[uppityperson]

10. Thank you, that is what I thought. I watch little tv but saw one, thought it odd

what with Jr's $ and all. Good for Bill Sr.

[Krakowiak]

14. The younger Gates supports the tax as well

http://blogs.wsj.com/wealth/2010/09/21/does-bill-gates-support-new-income-tax-for-wealthy/

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/politicsnorthwest/2012959755_microsoft_co-founder_bill_gate.html

[Krakowiak]

13. Bill Gates the younger supports the tax (nm)

[Statistical]

24. Bill Gates != Microsoft.

Little Billionaire Bill supports the tax.

Not sure why people continue to equate Microsoft w/ Bill Gates considering he stepped down as CEO 4 years ago.
?

[Missy Vixen]

26. Considering the fact he founded the company and evidently is stil in evidence at the Microsoft

campus, is this really a shock?

[Greyhound]

27. Because he created the monster through crime. n/t

[upi402]

11. Chickens love their Colonel Sandres

I talked to a union worker (socialist employment structure) in liberal King County (Seattle) ...who wanted everyone to get out and vote against this insanity.

And she was unemployed!
unreal, if I hadn't seen it so often. TV news media traitors have betrayed democracy very very well.

[Lagomorph]

16. The opposition includes a lot of fairly

progressive Washingtonians. The problem is that they've made the tax proposal expandable to the entire population.

The question is, if it's intended for the richest members of the state's economy, why is there a provision to extend the tax to everyone in as little as two years?

We already have a substantial tax burden in this state, while the benefits are heavily focused in the Olympia to Seattle area. The politicians treat the rest of the state as fly-over country.

There is a road near here with four miles of sidewalks on either side, with not a single residential dwelling on the road. Meanwhile, the neighborhoods must send their kids to school along the narrow gravel shoulders of the two lane roads. After 25 years of voting for everything they've asked for, it gets harder to keep voting for that.

[eridani]

18. That is bullshit. There is no such provision n/t

[Missy Vixen]

21. It's not expandable to the entire population without a vote of the populace

Please read the initiative before buying into the attack ads.

BTW, the area between Olympia and Seattle has more business activity than the rest of the state, therefore, more tax monies are spent there for infrastructure and services.

[Krakowiak]

25. I believe it also requires a vote of the people to extend it

From Sec 1004:
http://www.sos.wa.gov/elections/initiatives/text/i1098.pdf


Sec. 1004. The excise tax rates in section 501 of
this act may not be increased for any income level without a majority
vote of the legislature and submission of the changes to the people
for approval.

[McCamy Taylor]

17. All this money could be spent on something better than TV ads

Like school lunches.

[Missy Vixen]

23. Attack ads are successful

It's been proven repeatedly.

If negative campaigning didn't work, candidates would stop doing it.

[LatteLibertine]

19. The most wealthy may

corrupt our politicians and we may vote them out of office. They have the cash and we have the raw numbers. An active voting population = a pain in their ass. They want us to vote GOP or stay home. They're doing all they can to see both realized.

[bullwinkle428]

22. Did we really need further proof that Ballmer is a gigantic douchebag?