Quinn Costing Illinois More Jobs

I'm sorry I don't have more time to post blog updates, as I'm trying to find additional streams of income to help cope with the huge income tax hike we experienced here in Illinois.

One of those income streams for thousands of people in Illinois was the Amazon.com affiliate program. Basically, you advertise a product for amazon.com and if someone buys it from your link, you get a certain percentage of the sale.

Well, now Pat Quinn, after hiking income tax, has put an end to the amazon.com affiliate program for every single person living in Illinois. I don't think I ever made a dime from the program, I never really tried to. I can imagine, however, that of the thousands of Illinois residents that participated, at least some of them made a few hundred bucks. I also imagine, that some of that money was spent in Illinois, and Illinois benefited from the outrageous sales taxes.

Illinois is all about holding people back. Want to better yourself here? Good luck! At a time when most people were taking pay cuts, Illinois taxed them even harder. Working people in this state have fallen on hard times, and the democrats here have decided to make things even harder. Their goal? I think it's to make people who were earning a living for themselves more dependent on the Government. The more people they can get on the Government teat, the bigger their voter base. Think about it! With all of these new taxes, not one penny was cut from the budget. People receiving aid from the Government will not lose a penny! Their LINK cards will still be filled, their rent will still be free, their children will still get free medical care. Get more people suckling the teat, you have more people that will vote to ensure their free crap doesn't disappear.

We don't need more handouts, we need less spending! The only people suffering are the suckers like me that still WORK for a living!

Here is the e-mail I received from amazon.com:

Hello,
For well over a decade, the Amazon Associates Program has worked with thousands of Illinois residents. Unfortunately, a new state tax law signed by Governor Quinn compels us to terminate this program for Illinois-based participants. It specifically imposes the collection of taxes from consumers on sales by online retailers - including but not limited to those referred by Illinois-based affiliates like you - even if those retailers have no physical presence in the state.
We had opposed this new tax law because it is unconstitutional and counterproductive. It was supported by national retailing chains, most of which are based outside Illinois, that seek to harm the affiliate advertising programs of their competitors. Similar legislation in other states has led to job and income losses, and little, if any, new tax revenue. We deeply regret that its enactment forces this action.
As a result of the new law, contracts with all Illinois affiliates of the Amazon Associates Program will be terminated and those Illinois residents will no longer receive advertising fees for sales referred to Amazon.com , Endless.com , or SmallParts.com . Please be assured that all qualifying advertising fees earned prior to April 15, 2011 will be processed and paid in full in accordance with the regular payment schedule. Based on your account closure date of April 15, 2011, any final payments will be paid by July 1, 2011.
You are receiving this email because our records indicate that you are a resident of Illinois. If you are not currently a permanent resident of Illinois, or if you are relocating to another state in the near future, you can manage the details of your Associates account here . And if you relocate to another state after April 15, please contact us for reinstatement into the Amazon Associates Program.
To be clear, this development will only impact our ability to continue the Associates Program in Illinois, and will not affect the ability of Illinois residents to purchase online at www.amazon.com from Amazon’s retail business.
We have enjoyed working with you and other Illinois-based participants in the Amazon Associates Program and, if this situation is rectified, would very much welcome the opportunity to re-open our Associates Program to Illinois residents.
Regards,
The Amazon Associates Team