South Carolina Tea Party leaders are blasting S.C. Gov. Nikki Haley for her failure to take a principled stand against a controversial incentives deal for online retailer Amazon.com.
In an email sent to his supporters late Wednesday, S.C. Campaign for Liberty leader Talbert Black ripped Haley for playing both sides of the fence on the sales [...]
SC Tea Party Blasts Haley Over Amazon
Work On Amazon Facility Begins Again
Three weeks after it stopped on a dime, work has recommenced in Lexington County, S.C. on Amazon’s $100 million “fulfillment center.”
The facility – which was the focus of an intense (and often confusing) political battle in the S.C. General Assembly – is expected to bring 1,300 low-paying jobs to the Midlands region of the state. [...]
Hitt Or Haley: Who’s In Charge?
S.C. Commerce Secretary Bobby Hitt works for Gov. Nikki Haley … but you’d never know it from watching the recent Amazon drama unfold.
For months, the two “leaders” have been working at cross-purposes. In fact, Wednesday’s decision by the S.C. House of Representatives to approve the controversial sales tax “safe harbor” legislation for Amazon has exposed [...]
Flip Flop: Amazon Sails Through SC House
Flip-flop, flip-flop …
Three weeks after decisively rejecting a sales tax “safe harbor” deal for online retailer Amazon.com, the S.C. House of Representatives reversed course on Wednesday and overwhelmingly approved the measure by an even larger margin.
The controversial deal – which was opposed by S.C. Rep. Nikki Haley – passed the House by a whopping 97-20 [...]
SC House To Nikki Haley: Step Up On Amazon
A month ago, we challenged S.C. Gov. Nikki Haley to show some leadership and take a definitive position on the controversial sales tax “safe harbor” deal for online retailer Amazon.com.
She failed to do so – choosing instead to continue her “kabuki dance” on the issue even as the S.C. House of Representatives was voting overwhelmingly [...]
Amazon Debate Ratchets Up … Again
For the second time in a month, the S.C. House of Representatives is poised to vote on a sales tax “safe harbor” exemption for online retailer Amazon.com. Last time, the vote went poorly for supporters of the exemption – which was promised to the company by the administration of former Gov. Mark Sanford as part [...]
Kenny Bingham: SC Should “Fix” Amazon Mistake
By Kenny Bingham || It is not uncommon for the S.C. General Assembly to make some mistakes. What is even more uncommon is for us to fix them. This week the state House of Representatives will reconsider what is potentially one of the most important economic development opportunities for the South Carolina Midlands. [...]
Whoring For Walmart?
A prominent “pro-transparency” think tank has been helping lead the fight against online retailer Amazon.com – but are they being paid to do so by one of the company’s competitors?
Sources close to former S.C. Gov. Mark Sanford’s administration tell FITS that Walmart has previously routed money to the S.C.Policy Council to pay for its various [...]
Sears Weighs In On Amazon Controversy
South Carolina’s economic development efforts may have been compromised by the ongoing Amazon drama, but at least one of the state’s “high value targets” is pleased that Palmetto lawmakers shot down a controversial sales tax break for the company.
Sears Holding Corporation – which may leave Illinois due to a recent state income tax hike (and [...]
Michelin Bringing Jobs To SC
Michelin North America is bringing 270 new jobs to Lexington County, S.C. Gov. Nikki Haley and company officials announced on Monday. The tire manufacturer will invest an estimated $200 million in the project, according to a company release.
No incentive information regarding the expansion was immediately available from the S.C. Department of Commerce.
“We must have additional [...]
Is Brown Bolting SC?
Could United Parcel Service (UPS) be the latest casualty in South Carolina’s “Amazonian War?”
The Atlanta-based shipping company – which has operated a 313,000-foot facility at the Columbia Metropolitan Airport since 1996 – was reportedly counting on online retailer Amazon.com to build its “fulfillment center” in Lexington County.
Not only would the Amazon center have provided a [...]
Let The Walmart Debate Begin
We know that South Carolina lost out on least 2,500 low-paying jobs when it reneged on its promise to provide a sales tax exemption to online retailer Amazon.com. We also know that Walmart announced on Wednesday that it was bringing 4,000 new (and presumably low-paying) jobs to the Palmetto state – right after the world’s [...]
