Apple talk continues.
Rep Skip Stam (R Wake) proposes an amendment that would insert a “but for” provision requiring the qualifying company (Apple) sign a statement says that if not for the corporate welfare package they are receiving, they would not be coming to North Carolina. Other corporate welfare programs like Bill Lee and JDIG require such a statement. Stam says if it?s? good enough for other incentive deals, it ought to be included here. And if it’s not necessary here, it should be admitted that the but for clause really doesn’t mean anything.
Bill sponsor, Rep Pryor Gibson (D Anson) says it’s too late to include this language because it’s the 11th hour of the deal. Stam disagrees, says that just proves his point and withdraws the amendment.
Rep Bonner Stiller (R Brunswick) talks about the Merck incentive deal and the seller of land in that deal. He won’t vote for a bill that no one will identify who the landowner is and if prior knowledge of the deal would lead to an increased price that the taxpayers’ would have to pay, since the tax break includes Apple’s purchase of the land in the required $1 B investment.
3rd Reading House vote: 83 yes; 34 no.
Because the original Senate bill was changed in the House, it goes back to the Senate for a concurrence vote. It’s on the Senate calendar for tomorrow.
