Tuesday, April 22, 2008
 
The Horse Pushing The Cart
I think the St. Louis Post-Dispatch got things in the wrong order here when it describes a citizen expressing his views to his leaders:
    Ignoring lobbying from a major Republican campaign donor, the House voted overwhelmingly Monday to grant the largest tax break ever in Missouri to a Canadian firm.

    With little debate, legislators approved a package aimed at luring Montreal-based Bombardier Aerospace to build a $375 million plant near Kansas City International Airport.

    The bipartisan vote was 125-16. The bill now moves to the Senate.

    Bombardier could draw up to $40 million a year for 22 years, as could other "mega-projects" that invest at least $300 million and employ 1,000 people at above-average wages.

    Critics, led by multimillionaire Rex Sinquefield of St. Louis, have questioned whether the state would get its money back. His free-market think tank, the Show-Me Institute, recommends the state give tax breaks to everyone instead of picking projects to promote.
The paper uses lobbying as a negatively laden code word these days which means "sought government attention." The fact that he often gives to Republicans is also a code that he's a fat cat. In short, the Post-Dispatch tries to marginalize the person's views, which are that the state shouldn't engage in crony capitalism and give breaks to its friends or to projects its legislators like.

A good principle, but not one to even consider when it comes from a wealthy Republican lobbyist.


- posted by Brian J. @ 6:47 AM
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