ATLANTA (AP) — Georgia lawmakers vowed they were going to rein in tax breaks for businesses this year.
Their efforts came to nothing.
Gov. Brian Kemp on Tuesday vetoed a two-year pause in a sales tax exemption the state gives for building and equipping computer data centers, after an intensive lobbying effort to preserve the tax break.
Kemp’s veto shows how hard it is to root out established tax breaks, said lawmakers and national experts.
“Any time you create a carve-out in your tax code, you then create a self-interested lobby around it,” said Greg LeRoy, the executive director of Good Jobs First, a liberal-leaning group long skeptical of economic development incentives.
The Republican governor wrote that he was vetoing House Bill 1192 because businesses had already made plans for data centers using the exemption and that the “abrupt” July 1 freeze would undermine “the investments made by high-technology data center operators, customers, and other stakeholders in reliance on the recent extension, and inhibiting important infrastructure and job development.”
Activities Help Raise Minors' Legal Awareness
Some Xavier University students upset with planned commencement address by UN ambassador
Red Sox activate pitcher Pivetta, infielder Gonzalez from injured list before facing Braves
Pete McCloskey, congressman who once challenged Nixon, dies at 96
Federation Strengthens Girls' Legal Protection
Shopify's shares tumble on weak outlook after a very strong start to 2024
New York Mets, St. Louis Cardinals game rained out, to be made up Aug. 5
The Rev. Al Sharpton calls for justice in eulogy for Ohio man who died last month in police custody
Center Helps Create Harmonious Family Education Environment
NYC real estate developer charged with driving into woman at pro
Israeli army kills over 200 Palestinians, arrests 1,000 in Gaza hospital: Hamas
Woman accused of killing Boston police officer boyfriend was framed, attorneys say