Your state and local government’s files on economic development subsidies are just that—your files.

With tax revenues plunging and healthcare costs soaring due to the coronavirus pandemic, some major corporations are volunteering to pay back the huge tax breaks and grants they’ve received as “economic development incentives.” They are also agreeing to forego future subsidies by canceling incentive deals. (Happy April Fool’s Day!)

The recent passing of Larry Hanley, International President of the Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU), is far more than a great loss for his union’s 200,000 members. It’s a setback for transit advocacy, environmentalism, grassroots organizing and progressive politics.

In response to many inquiries we have received since releasing our study, Will Amazon Fool Us Twice?, about aggressive subsidy-gathering behavior by the online retail giant (and to mark Amazon's made-up "Prime Day"), Good Jobs First issued a WARN Act tip for reporters on how to add additional context to Amazon.com's claim of "creating" 100,000 jobs.

By Gordon Lafer & Greg LeRoy

When the term “Rustbelt” was coined in the 1980s and activists learned the early warning signs of a plant closing, one of those indicators was tax dodging. If a company knew it was planning to close a factory, it would often challenge its property