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MONEY FOR
NOTHING
Strategies for Corporate Welfare
Reform
HISTORICALHISTORICAL Began with subsidies and rights of way Began with subsidies and rights of way
during railroad eraduring railroad era Government non-intervention in Government non-intervention in
economic regulation late 1800s to economic regulation late 1800s to early 1900searly 1900s
New Deal and expansion of federal New Deal and expansion of federal economic programseconomic programs
Modern corporate welfare in response Modern corporate welfare in response to unemployment and stagflation in to unemployment and stagflation in early 1980searly 1980s
WHAT IS IT?WHAT IS IT? Property or income tax deferrals, Property or income tax deferrals,
abatements or creditsabatements or credits Tax Free Enterprise zonesTax Free Enterprise zones Tax exempt bondsTax exempt bonds Tax Increment Financing (TIF) zonesTax Increment Financing (TIF) zones General tax code changes (e.g. General tax code changes (e.g.
accelerated depreciation or off-shore accelerated depreciation or off-shore havens)havens)
WHAT IS IT?WHAT IS IT? Low interest loans or loan Low interest loans or loan
guaranteesguarantees Subsidies for infrastructure, Subsidies for infrastructure,
training or advertisingtraining or advertising No bid contract awardsNo bid contract awards Cash grantsCash grants
HOW MUCH DOES IT COST?HOW MUCH DOES IT COST?(Federal, 1996)(Federal, 1996)
$85,000,000,000 $85,000,000,000 CATO INSTITUTE (Libertarian)CATO INSTITUTE (Libertarian)
$167,000,000,000$167,000,000,000 CENTER FOR RESPONSIVE LAW & ESSENTIAL CENTER FOR RESPONSIVE LAW & ESSENTIAL
INFORMATION (Liberal)INFORMATION (Liberal)
$265,000,000,000$265,000,000,000 PROGRESSIVE POLICY INSTITUTE (Moderate)PROGRESSIVE POLICY INSTITUTE (Moderate)
HOW MUCH DOES IT COST?HOW MUCH DOES IT COST?
Job Creation and Worker Job Creation and Worker Assistance Act of 2002Assistance Act of 2002
Jobs and Growth Tax Relief Jobs and Growth Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2003Reconciliation Act of 2003
Projected to cost $175 Billion Projected to cost $175 Billion over three years over three years
Arguments Against Corporate Arguments Against Corporate WelfareWelfare
Federal Gov’t has a disappointing record Federal Gov’t has a disappointing record of picking winners and losersof picking winners and losers
Huge drain on Federal TreasuryHuge drain on Federal Treasury
Creates an uneven playing fieldCreates an uneven playing field
Fosters an incestuous relationship Fosters an incestuous relationship between business and governmentbetween business and government
Arguments Against Corporate Arguments Against Corporate WelfareWelfare
Anti-consumer—results in higher pricesAnti-consumer—results in higher prices
Anti-capitalist—leads to the creation of Anti-capitalist—leads to the creation of the “statist businessman”the “statist businessman”
Unconstitutional--outside Unconstitutional--outside Congressional spending authority Congressional spending authority
Arguments in Favor of Arguments in Favor of Corporate Welfare Corporate Welfare
Protection of domestic industries and Protection of domestic industries and preservation of jobspreservation of jobs
Funds important research that private Funds important research that private industry could not otherwise affordindustry could not otherwise afford
Insures “level playing field” against Insures “level playing field” against competitors subsidized by foreign competitors subsidized by foreign governmentsgovernments
Arguments in Favor of Arguments in Favor of Corporate WelfareCorporate Welfare
Maintain viability of strategic industries Maintain viability of strategic industries necessary to national securitynecessary to national security Privatization/Military Industrial ComplexPrivatization/Military Industrial Complex
Ventures are financed that would Ventures are financed that would otherwise be too riskyotherwise be too risky Presumes ventures are socially desired or Presumes ventures are socially desired or
usefuluseful
Assists socially disadvantaged groups in Assists socially disadvantaged groups in establishing new businessesestablishing new businesses
DOES IT CREATE JOBS?DOES IT CREATE JOBS? State of Alabama paid Mercedes-State of Alabama paid Mercedes-
Benz $168,000 per jobBenz $168,000 per job Philadelphia paid a Norwegian Philadelphia paid a Norwegian
shipping company $323,000 per shipping company $323,000 per jobjob
Caledonia, MN paid a Dairy Caledonia, MN paid a Dairy Queen franchise $275,000 for Queen franchise $275,000 for one job paying $4.50 per hourone job paying $4.50 per hour
DOES IT CREATE JOBS?DOES IT CREATE JOBS? Former FL Gov. Jeb Bush compares Former FL Gov. Jeb Bush compares
economic potential of biotech to economic potential of biotech to coming of the railroads.coming of the railroads.
$510 million pledged to Scripps, $310 $510 million pledged to Scripps, $310 million to Burnham Institute for million to Burnham Institute for Medical Research and $90 million to Medical Research and $90 million to Torrey Pines Institute for Molecular Torrey Pines Institute for Molecular StudiesStudies
Average cost per job: $814,666Average cost per job: $814,666
DOES IT CREATE JOBS?DOES IT CREATE JOBS? Seaboard closes hog processing plant Seaboard closes hog processing plant
after receiving $2.9 million from Albert after receiving $2.9 million from Albert Lea, MN. Lea, MN.
JP Morgan Chase receives almost $100 JP Morgan Chase receives almost $100 million from Tampa, FL for various million from Tampa, FL for various benefits over 10+ years. Chase closes benefits over 10+ years. Chase closes Tampa credit card center in January, Tampa credit card center in January, 2005, laying off 1,900 workers. 2005, laying off 1,900 workers.
Does it Motivate Does it Motivate Businesses?Businesses?
Studies show that business location Studies show that business location decisions are made more on basis of decisions are made more on basis of skilled work force, cultural amenities skilled work force, cultural amenities and access to suppliers, customers and access to suppliers, customers and markets.and markets.
A $50 billion per year industry of site A $50 billion per year industry of site location and “business climate” location and “business climate” consultants scavenges unclaimed consultants scavenges unclaimed subsidies and drives up bidding subsidies and drives up bidding warfare. warfare.
Does It Motivate Does It Motivate Businesses?Businesses?
““If you are giving money away, I If you are giving money away, I will take it. If you want to give me will take it. If you want to give me inducements for something I am inducements for something I am going to do anyway, I will take it.” going to do anyway, I will take it.”
Paul O’Neill, former CEO of Alcoa and Paul O’Neill, former CEO of Alcoa and former US Secretary of Treasury former US Secretary of Treasury
REFORM ATTEMPTSREFORM ATTEMPTSFederalFederal
Bipartisan McCain-Kennedy legislation Bipartisan McCain-Kennedy legislation in 1995 creates Corporate Subsidy in 1995 creates Corporate Subsidy Reform CommissionReform Commission
Some of Commission’s recommended Some of Commission’s recommended eliminations for less controversial eliminations for less controversial programs are adoptedprograms are adopted
Incremental, one-time modest Incremental, one-time modest successsuccess
REFORM ATTEMPTSREFORM ATTEMPTSState and LocalState and Local
1995 legislation in MN created first 1995 legislation in MN created first aggressive disclosure and aggressive disclosure and accountability mandatesaccountability mandates
Today, 11 states have some form of Today, 11 states have some form of disclosure requirementsdisclosure requirements
Local action has been driven by Local action has been driven by community activist groups against community activist groups against specific project or industryspecific project or industry
POLITICAL BARRIERS TO POLITICAL BARRIERS TO REFORMREFORM
Corporate campaign finance Corporate campaign finance donationsdonations
Corporate lobbyingCorporate lobbying ““Pork barrel” parochialismPork barrel” parochialism Fear of competitive disadvantageFear of competitive disadvantage Fear for political career if official is Fear for political career if official is
perceived to be “anti-jobs”perceived to be “anti-jobs”
CULTURAL BARRIERS TO CULTURAL BARRIERS TO REFORMREFORM
““Primacy of the Market”Primacy of the Market”
Corporate welfare is not Corporate welfare is not considered to be redistributiveconsidered to be redistributive
Benefits are presumed and do Benefits are presumed and do not need to be “proven” not need to be “proven”
FLA vs. MINNFLA vs. MINN
FLORIDA LEGISLATIONFLORIDA LEGISLATION Chapter 288, Fla. Stats. Chapter 288, Fla. Stats. Encourages gov’t-private partnerships Encourages gov’t-private partnerships
in foreign trade, export finance, in foreign trade, export finance, international affairs, film & international affairs, film & entertainment, etc.entertainment, etc.
Enterprise Florida—not a government Enterprise Florida—not a government agency—selects eligible businessesagency—selects eligible businesses
Enterprise Florida is expressly exempt Enterprise Florida is expressly exempt from public records disclosure from public records disclosure (Sunshine) law(Sunshine) law
MINNESOTA LEGISLATIONMINNESOTA LEGISLATION ““Right to Know” requires all economic Right to Know” requires all economic
development subsidies submit reports development subsidies submit reports to a single, centralized agency.to a single, centralized agency.
Mandates net increase of jobs within 2 Mandates net increase of jobs within 2 years of receiving assistanceyears of receiving assistance
““Clawbacks”—gov’t must be repaid if Clawbacks”—gov’t must be repaid if business fails to meet wage and job business fails to meet wage and job creation goals creation goals
FLORIDA FLORIDA INCOME and EMPLOYMENT INCOME and EMPLOYMENT
DATADATA
Source: US Source: US CensusCensus
% Employed 56.0 54.9% Unemployed 3.4 3.2Median Family Income $32,212 $45,625Per Capita Income $14,698 $21,557% Families in Poverty 9.0 9.0% Individuals in Poverty
12.7 12.5
2000200019901990
MINNESOTA MINNESOTA INCOME and EMPLOYMENT INCOME and EMPLOYMENT
DATADATA
% Employed 66.0 68.2% Unemployed 3.6 2.9Median Family Income
$36,916 $56,874
Per Capita Income $14,389 $23,198% Families in Poverty 7.3 5.1% Individuals in Poverty
10.2 7.9Source: US Source: US
CensusCensus
19901990 20002000
% Change, 1990-2000% Change, 1990-2000
% Employed -2.0% -3.0%% Unemployed -5.9% -19.4%Median Family Income
41.6% 54.1%
Per Capita Income 46.7% 61.2%% Families in Poverty 0.0% -30.1%% Individuals in Poverty
-1.6% -22.5%
FLFLAA
MINNMINN
INTERGOVERNMENTAL INTERGOVERNMENTAL EFFECTSEFFECTS
Commerce Clause (Art I, Section 8) Commerce Clause (Art I, Section 8) Congress has greatly expanded federal control Congress has greatly expanded federal control
over states through Commerce powerover states through Commerce power States may not enact legislation that burdens States may not enact legislation that burdens
or discriminates against interstate commerce or discriminates against interstate commerce But…states may regulate so long as “valid But…states may regulate so long as “valid
factor unrelated to economic protectionism” factor unrelated to economic protectionism” Globalization,Treaties and Supremacy Globalization,Treaties and Supremacy
Clause Clause
INTERGOVERNMENTAL INTERGOVERNMENTAL EFFECTSEFFECTS
Interstate rivalry and the prisoner’s Interstate rivalry and the prisoner’s dilemmadilemma
1993—National Governors 1993—National Governors Association passed a resolution to Association passed a resolution to restrict subsidies to individual restrict subsidies to individual corporations. Was not binding or corporations. Was not binding or enforceable and did not work. enforceable and did not work.
INTERGOVERNMENTAL INTERGOVERNMENTAL EFFECTSEFFECTS
Difficult to trace money across Difficult to trace money across multiple layers of governmentmultiple layers of government
Accounting and auditing functions Accounting and auditing functions add costsadd costs
Creation of quasi-independent public Creation of quasi-independent public authorities in 1970s and 1980s has authorities in 1970s and 1980s has aggravated public-private aggravated public-private interdependencyinterdependency
WHAT TO DO? WHAT TO DO? Disclosure/Exposure/SunshineDisclosure/Exposure/Sunshine Stringent accountability and Stringent accountability and
clawbacksclawbacks Design analytical tools for “de-Design analytical tools for “de-
politicized” data collection and cost-politicized” data collection and cost-benefit determinations benefit determinations
Means testing? Means testing?
Federal or State Federal or State Enforcement? Enforcement?
““It is one of the happy incidents of the It is one of the happy incidents of the federal system that a single courageous federal system that a single courageous State may, if its citizens choose, serve State may, if its citizens choose, serve as a laboratory; and to try novel social as a laboratory; and to try novel social and economic experiments without risk and economic experiments without risk to the rest of the country.”to the rest of the country.” Justice Brandeis in Justice Brandeis in New State Ice Co. v. New State Ice Co. v.
LiebmanLiebman, 285 US 262, 311 (1932), 285 US 262, 311 (1932)