The latest from our Clawback blog:
July 20, 2010

 

In "NYC Considers Big Subsidy Packages for Thriving Firms While Cutting Vital Services for Poorest Residents," Allison Dean questions whether it makes sense for New York to give subsidies to a major accounting firm and a leading news/financial data company at a time when the city is slashing social safety net programs.

 

 

The latest from our Clawback blog:
June 21, 2010

 

Corporate lobbyists have long blown a fog of fear, disinformation and confusion about public disclosure of corporate income tax credits.

 

It's time to clear the air. See Greg LeRoy's blog post, "Naming Tax Credit Names."

 

The latest from our Clawback blog:
June 14, 2010

 

Greg LeRoy blogs about two new reports on subsidies released last week by allies of Good Jobs First.

 

In "Pa. Subsidies Getting Smarter (Growth-wise)," Greg blogs about a study by the Keystone Research Center that maps the same job subsidies in Pennsylvania at two different points in time. The Center found encouraging indications that harder-hit older communities are getting a bigger share of the money.  

 

Greg also brings attention to a study by the Public Accountability Initiative that takes a national look at the practices of Bass Pro, the big hunting and fishing outfitter that is notorious for getting local officials to provide huge subsidy packages for its stores. It finds that in many cases Bass Pro does not deliver the big economic impact it promises. See "Bass Pro Expose: Reeling in Subsidies."

 

The latest from our Clawback blog:
Apirl 6, 2010

 

In "NYC 'Wins' JetBlue Headquarters," Bettina Damiani blogs about the airline's recent announcement to relocate its headquarters to New York City (instead of Orlando, Florida) but she notes the deal's lack of transparency and accountability. Specifically missing in the Mayor's press release is any mention of the total value of subsidies the airline anticipates to receive from the city (which Good Jobs New York estimates at $30 million).

 

The latest from our Clawback blog:
March 8, 2010

 

Good Jobs First and Apollo Alliance released a new study titled Winning the Race: How America Can Lead the Global Clean Energy Economy. The report analyzes the recipients of the Recovery Act's Advanced Energy Manufacturing Tax Credit (48C credits) for wind and solar manufacturing projects in the US and found that 23 companies (that received $458 million in 48C credits) are also investing in similar production in low-wage countries such as China and Mexico. See "Report: U.S. Must Do More to Prevent Loss of Clean Energy Manufacturing Jobs."

 

In "Sucked Into the Offshoring Whirlpool," Phil Mattera writes that Whirlpool is under fire from organized labor for shutting down a 1,100-worker refrigerator plant in Evansville, Indiana and moving the work to Mexico. As the company exports jobs overseas, it is receiving federal aid with a $19.3 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy to develop "smart appliances" as part of the Recovery Act. This post is cross-posted on Dirt Diggers Digest.

 

Winning the Race: How America Can Lead the Global Clean Energy Economy
March 4, 2010

 

This report, published by the Apollo Alliance and Good Jobs First, argues that the United States should commit to the development of a strong domestic clean-energy manufacturing sector, but in doing so it should avoid the risk of indirectly subsidizing the expansion of the sector in offshore low-wage havens. An analysis of the recipients of the federal government's Advanced Energy Manufacturing Tax Credits shows that some are going to companies putting their primary emphasis on producing wind and solar generating equipment in countries such as China and India. [Report and press release].

 

Show Us the Stimulus (Again): An Evaluation of State Government Recovery Act Websites
January 26, 2010

 

Good Jobs First re-evaluates the quality of disclosure on the websites set up by state governments to educate the public about the flow of funds from the federal stimulus act. We find that states such as Kentucky, Illinois and Minnesota have made dramatic improvements in their sites over the past six months. [Report, press release and appendices].

 

Bonds and the Recovery Act: A Guide to Municipal Bonds Enabled Under the 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and Their Potential Impact on New York Communities

January 20, 2010

 

Perhaps the most obscure aspect of the $787 billion American Recovery and Reinvestment Act is how it seeks to expand bond programs for public infrastructure and private economic development projects. A report released today by Good Jobs New York explains how the Recovery Act's new and expanded bond programs are facilitating economic recovery and where opportunities exist for public input. (Full Report) 

 

Growing Pennsylvania's High-Tech Economy:  Choosing Effective Investments

January 13, 2010

 

In a new report Good Jobs First presents two unique analyses arguing that states should shun the costly "economic war among the states" and grow their own high-tech jobs, by playing to their strengths in high-tech skills and by helping small and young businesses.  (Full Report)  (Press Release)   (Report Summary)  (Appendices)

 

Show Us the Stimulus: An Evaluation of State Government Recovery Act Websites
July 29, 2009

 

In a new report Good Jobs First evaluates the quality of disclosure on the websites set up by state governments to educate the public about the flow of funds from the federal stimulus act. [Report, press release and appendices].

 

STAR Coalition and Recovery Act Info Center
May 26, 2009

 

Good Jobs First today announced the launch of States for a Transparent and Accountable Recovery (STAR Coalition). The organization is designed to encourage efforts at the state level to make the $787 billion American Recovery and Reinvestment Act transparent, accountable, fair and effective. The STAR Coalition has its own website, which includes the Recovery Act Info Center with extensive material on the Act and the way it is being implemented.

 

The South's Recovery:

Making it Accountable and Green

 

Will the $787 billion Recovery Act create good jobs and a stronger Southern economy? Join activists on April 30th in Atlanta to explore opportunities to build a more accountable recovery in the South. For more information click here.

 

The latest from our Clawback blog:
April 13, 2009

 

In "Audit of DC's CAPCO Program Reveals Few Jobs Created," Leigh McIlvaine writes about the poor results of the District of Columbia's Certified Capital Companies (CAPCO) Program, which created only 31 jobs since 2004.

 

In New York, Allison Lack brings attention to the recently published on-line database that exposes taxpayer losses from the state's broken Empire Zone subsidy program. See "Post-Standard Database Sheds Light on Empire Zone 'Winners'."

 

The latest from our Clawback blog:
April 6, 2009

 

In "Questionable Projects Promoted for Stimulus Funding in New York," Allison Lack brings attention to two projects - the Atlantic Yards in Brooklyn and a "South Bronx Development Initiative" - that have appeared on a list of possible uses of federal Recovery Act funds. The Brooklyn project has already received hundreds of million in taxpayer subsidies while the Bronx project does not appear to serve the best interest of local residents.

 

In other news, Chicago Aldermen - Manny Flores and Scott Waguespack - have proposed creating an online disclosure system on projects receiving Tax Increment Financing. While no one testified against this reform for more transparency, the economic development subcommittee chair tabled it. See Jeff McCourt's "Chicago Aldermen Want a Brighter Light on City's TIF Spending."

 

The latest from our Clawback blog:
March 2, 2009

With the passage of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, Phil Mattera writes about the formation of the Coalition for an Accountable Recovery (co-chaired by Good Jobs First and OMB Watch), which will promote maximum transparency and accountability for the $787 billion spending plan. See "Millions of Eyeballs on the Recovery Act."

 

At the state level, two dozen advocacy groups, led by Common Cause/New York, have come together in New York State to form a coalition (including Good Jobs New York) demanding full transparency for stimulus funds in the Empire State. See Bettina Damiani's "New York Advocates to 'Drill Down' on where Federal Stimulus Money Goes."

 

In "NYC 'Venture'ing Into Incentives For Wall Street's Down and Out," Bettina brings attention to a new program that will use public money to assist laid-off Wall Street-types, but she argues that the City should not ignore other unemployed New Yorkers who are not associated with the financial sector.

 

In other news, Caitlin Lacy blogs about the release of a new report from the West Virginia Center on Budget & Policy that argues for better public disclosure of subsidies and better job creation/ quality reporting. See "Money for Nothing."

 

In "SunCal Shines No Light on New Mexico Lobbying Expenditure," Leigh McIlvaine writes about charges that this giant developer has failed to comply with state lobbying disclosure laws while spending large sums of money seeking to build support for $690 million in subsidies for its big project on the outskirts of Albuquerque.

 

Report: Green Jobs are Not Always Good Jobs
Feburary 3, 2009

As the federal government prepares to spend billions of dollars promoting the creation of green jobs as part of the huge economy recovery bill, a new report from Good Jobs First warns that the jobs already being created in climate-friendly sectors of the economy do not always measure up in terms of wages and other terms of employment. The report, entitled High Road or Low Road? Job Quality in the New Green Economy, was commissioned by Change to Win, the Sierra Club, and the Teamsters and Laborers unions. [Full report] [Press release]

The latest from our Clawback blog:
February 2, 2009

In "Messing with Subsidies in Texas," Leigh McIlvaine discusses two proposed charter amendments coming up for a vote in Dallas that would require public approval of major economic development deals.

 

Caitlin Lacy writes about a new report from the East-West Gateway Council of Governments that contains a devastating critique of policies such as tax increment financing. See "Report Calls Endless Tax Incentives for Retail Expansion A Losing Strategy for St. Louis."

The latest from our Clawback blog:
January 26, 2009

The Obama Administration wasted no time in moving toward more open government, writes Phil Mattera in "Transparent Intentions." In addition to loosening restrictions on the release of government documents, the Administration is pushing an economic recovery bill that has unprecedented disclosure and accountability provisions.

Despite a torrent of criticism, officials in New York have given the Yankees and the Mets access to yet more tax-exempt financing for their new stadiums. This brings the total to more than $1 billion for the Yankees and over $600 million for the Mets. See Allison Lack's "New York Baseball Teams' Win Is Taxpayers' Loss."

 

In "Cooper Tire's Novel Approach to Subsidy Competition: Pay to Survive," Jeff McCourt writes how the company extracted over $66 million in subsidies as well as wage and benefit concessions  by pitting its four U.S. plants and their respective state and local governments against each other when it announced that one of the facilities would have to be shut down.

The latest from our Clawback blog:
December 22, 2008

Leigh McIlvaine discusses the drawbacks of proposed legislation in New Jersey that would largely deregulate the state's tax increment financing districts (known as Revenue Allocation Districts). See "RAD-ical TIF Deregulation a Cause for Concern in NJ."

In "Smoking Gun found in NYS Investigation of New Yankee Stadium," Bettina Damiani writes about the latest revelations concerning alleged collusion between New York City officials and the Yankees to inflate the value of the land under the new stadium to allow for a higher volume of tax-free bond financing.

In "Foreign Auto Plants Received $3.6 Billion in Subsidies, Mostly from Southern States," Greg LeRoy points out that Toyota, Nissan and the other foreign carmakers operating in the U.S. have received substantial aid from state governments.