Slouching toward insolvency

Just got this. Welcome to Illinois, which don’t need no stinkin’ Amazon Associates business anyhow. top-logo._V192206992_.gif

Greetings from the Amazon Associates Program: We regret to inform you that the Illinois state legislature has passed an unconstitutional tax collection scheme that, if signed by Governor Quinn, would leave Amazon.com little choice but to end its relationships with Illinois-based Associates. You are receiving this email because our records indicate that you are a resident of Illinois. . . . .

Please note that this not an immediate termination notice and you are still a valued participant in the Amazon Associates Program. But if the governor signs this bill, we will need to terminate the participation of all Illinois residents in the Associates Program. After that point, we will no longer pay any advertising fees for sales referred to amazon.com, endless.com and smallparts.com nor will we accept new applications for the Associates Program from Illinois residents.

The unfortunate consequences of this legislation on Illinois residents like you were explained to the legislature, including Senate and House leadership, as well as to the governor’s staff.

Over a dozen other states have considered essentially identical legislation but have rejected these proposals largely because of the adverse impact on their states’ residents.

Governor Quinn’s office may be reached here.

We thank you for being part of the Amazon Associates Program, and wish you continued success in the future.

Sincerely,

Amazon.com

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The (publicly employed) people’s choices

These Chicago aldermanic candidates have a major public-employee-union endorsement, Early & Often tells us:

8th Ward: Michelle Harris
12th: George Cardenas
18th: Chuks Onyezia
19th: Matt O’Shea
24th: Sharon Denise Dixon
28th: Jason Ervin
30th: Ariel Reboyras
36th: John Rice
47th: Eugene Schulter
50th: Debra Silverstein

American Fed of State, County, & Municipal Employees (AFSCME) is the union.  It has the best interests at heart of all Chicagoans, employed by state, county or municipality or not.  You doubt that?

It had earlier endorsed these candidates:

1st: Proco “Joe” Moreno
2nd: Robert Fioretti
3rd: Pat Dowell
4th: Will Burns
5th: Leslie Hairston
6th: Freddrenna Lyle
7th: Sandi Jackson [wife of Rep. Jesse J. Jr.]
15th: Toni Foulkes
16th: JoAnn Thompson
20th: Willie Cochran
22nd: Ricardo Munoz
27th: Walter Burnett
29th: Deborah Graham
32nd: Scott Waguespack
35th: Rey Colon
38th: Tim Cullerton
45th: Marina Faz-Huppert
48th: Harry Osterman
49th: Joe Moore

That makes 29 of 50 aldermen, a clear majority for the Chicago city council, assuming they all win, as it careens toward budget-deciding in a time of looming financial catastrophe.  Aren’t you glad you live there, you Chicagoans, you Cook Countyans, you Illinoisans?