Today the AG’s office announced that Amazon’s attack on the legislative process can proceed.
Amazon.com can begin collecting signatures to overturn California’s new online tax law after state Attorney General Kamala Harris issued ballot language Monday for the retailer’s proposed referendum.
The retailer and its online allies will have until Sept. 27 to gather 505,000 signatures to qualify the referendum for the ballot. Should it qualify, the state would have to suspend its new sales tax law until voters decide on the matter next June.
The law, Assembly Bill X1 28, was approved by Democratic lawmakers and signed by Gov. Jerry Brown last month. It expands the definition of retailers required to collect sales and use tax on California purchases, and the budget relies on the measure to raise $200 million this fiscal year.(SacBee )
One thing you can count on with this ballot measure is that there will be litigation. Amazon clearly wants this fought out on the ballot, after all, who doesn’t like a free pony, but the questions are real.
is worth it for them, even if they get stomped in the June vote. This is a great example of why we need reform of the initiative process.
Meanwhile, anyone given any initiative needs to read through every page that they’re signing and if there’s any funny stuff (1) document it as well as possible and then (2) contact the FPPC or even AG. If Amazon goes the way of most corporations doing initiatives, there will be substantial bending of rules involved.