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WIECK HAS 'NO REGRETS' ABOUT SUBSIDIZING MICROSOFT

March 08, 2008

Radio Iowa reports "Top Republican has no regrets about Microsoft package":

The top Republican in the Iowa Senate says he has no regrets about voting to give new state tax breaks to Microsoft. A Republican-led group called the "Iowa Future Fund" is running ads which criticize Democrat Governor Chet Culver for backing the bill which granted those breaks to Microsoft, but every Republican in the legislature voted for the bill, too.

Senate Republican Leader Ron Wieck of Sioux City says he does not regret backing the bill. "I know that there are those out there who are critical of the bill," Wieck says. "...I'm supportive of business."

No, he's a supporter of one business, at the expense of every business that didn't get the break. Every other business in the state will have to pay a bit more to make up for the sales taxes and property taxes that Microsoft won't be paying. There's no other way; the money to pay for the services Microsoft and its employees use doesn't grow on trees. Every kid who has put up with a teacher's pet knows that if you give one person special favors, you dump on everyone else.

The controversy over the Iowa Future Fund ads seems to be opening at least one politician's eyes:

While Wieck stands behind his "yes" vote on the Microsoft bill, House Republican Leader Christopher Rants of Sioux City is having a bit of buyer's remorse.

"You know, it's all fine and good that, you know, we're supporting Microsoft. Apparently since Bill Gates slipped from number one in the world to number three (on the list of wealthiest people) he needs the tax break, but what about everybody else?" Rants asks.

Better that wisdom arrives late than never.

Tags: corporate welfare.economic development.iowa tax policy.

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