Oregon jumps through Nike hoop

Nike casually let Governor Kitzhaber know that it would really like to expand in Oregon, all the State had to do was write a law that guaranteed they'd keep all the tax breaks they've "negotiated" (some would say extorted) in Oregon.  They wanted an answer pronto or they might shop elsewhere, so the Governor called a one-day special session of the legislature to pass whatever Nike wanted.  The Legislature had less that one weeks notice that they were summoned and expected to do the dance.  Nike thinks a 30 year commitment to the status quo would be fair. 

I received two Emails, one from my State Representative Carolyn Tomei, who described the objective of HB 4200 as "a measure that would give Nike certainty about the way its taxes are calculated for possibly the next thirty years". 

 Interestingly, my State Senator Diane Rosenbaum described it somewhat more vaguely "Nike asked for a commitment that the State's single-sales factor method of calculating business taxes will remain unchanged for a period of time."   She didn't mention what period of time we were talking about.

Carolyn voted against the bill and Diane voted in favor.  The press is divided, some think it's probably a bad idea, while others think it is a no-brainer.   I think it is brazen corporate  blackmail, and we make a mistake if we give in to it.  The people of Oregon don't have any protection from tax increases, neither should Nike.