"Economic development incentives are mostly money laundering schemes whereby politicians give our tax dollars to their buddies who then turn around and give part of it back to the politician in the form of campaign contributions"

...................................................................................................................................................................
Wonder what you get for $2600 you give a politician?
Daily Haymaker, January 2, 2014

A test we apply to politicians is to examine what their core values and principles are and whether they adhere to those principles when the time comes to take a position on a given issue.

One of the fundamental principles of true conservatives is adherence to the constitutions (both federal and state). One of the most fundamental constitutional principles of American government is equality. We have an equal protection clause in both the federal and state constitutions. The essence of constitutional equality is that the government treats all equally, or if not that that there is a good reason for not doing so. A fundamental principle of most conservatives is also that "special emoluments" should not be granted. That's what some now days consider an arcane idea our founders had when they proposed and the people adopted the N. C. Constitution. So they wrote into Article I, Sec. 32. "Exclusive emoluments. No person or set of persons is entitled to exclusive or separate emoluments or privileges from the community but in consideration of public services." The idea was that special favors using tax dollars should not be given to some that are not extended to all. Under that theory, "economic development incentives" would be unconstitutional. But like so many other things, that idea has been twisted and warped until we now have politicians claiming that special favors for special interests are absolutely essential. Some industries get special favors that other industries do not get. Some companies within an industry get favors that others similarly situated do not get.

We've said it here before and we'll say it again. Economic development incentives are mostly money laundering schemes whereby politicians give our tax dollars to their buddies who then turn around and give part of it back to the politician in the form of campaign contributions. It has not only become common place, but is considered by some the only way you can survive in politics today.

Want to see the latest example? Brant Clifton has it at the Daily Haymaker where he writes:

On September 14, state House speaker and US Senate candidate Thom Tillis made news at a GOP picnic in Wilmington: 

North Carolina State Representative and Speaker of the House, Thom Tillis spoke at a picnic for Republicans Saturday at Snow's Cut Park. Tillis is challenging Senator Kay Hagan, a Democrat, as she runs for re-election in the 2014 race. 

Tillis weighed in on North Carolina's film incentive program which is set to expire at the end of next year. 

"I believe the film industry is critical to Wilmington, it's critical in Charlotte, it's growing in Asheville. We've got to figure out a way to make sure that North Carolina's competitive. I think there's a way to continue to move forward with tax reform but make absolutely certain that North Carolina is the go-to place for the film industry for productions and all the other good jobs that come with it," said Tillis. 

Tillis said he believes lawmakers will vote to extend the program when the legislature heads back for the short session next year. 

(As speaker, Thom Tillis has A LOT of say in what makes it to the House floor, and what DOES NOT.) 

Keep that date and those comments in mind. That SAME MONTH, money from film industry figures — coincedentally, I'm sure — began flowing into the Tillis for Senate campaign coffers. 

On September 30, Mr.Chris James Cooney , COO of EUE / Screen Gems, and a resident of Chappaqua, New York, donated $2600 to the Tillis campaign. On that same date, Sharon Cooney, with EUE / Screen Gems' PR & Marketing shop, and a resident of Lantana, Florida, donated $2600 to the Tillis campaign. 

On that same date, George K. Cooney, a resident of Bronxville, New York and CEO of EUE / Screen Gems, made two donations of $2600 each to the Tillis …

Click here to go to the original source to read the rest of the story. (Don't miss the comments.)

Now, if we were a betting person we would wager that Tillis' defense of this is that "everybody does it." Or maybe, "there's no controlling legal authority that prohibits it." Of course he controlled that legal authority.

So you now see what we mean when we say that what we need are principled politicians not those who depend on special interests. If you're not convinced, just ask yourself this question: Do you think all these people from outside North Carolina did not expect something in return for those $2600 checks? Wonder what it was?
...................................................................................................................................................................