Apple tax break denied because of employee benefits policy
Song Weaver
and how it was greeted in Texas --Julie
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GEORGETOWN, Texas (UPI) -- A conservative Texas county Tuesday denied a
tax break sought by Apple Computer for a new facility because of the
company's employee benefits plan, which covers same-sex partners.
The decision is likely to cause Williamson County to lose the proposed
$80 million, nine-building complex in Round Rock, just north of Austin,
along with the 700 jobs it would have created.
Lisa Byrne, group public relations manager for Apple USA, said in
Cupertino, Calif., that Apple officials were disappointed at the
decision and will be evaluating all their options.
She added that, "It is unlikely we will relocate in Williamson County."
Apples officials had said previously that the company would not change
its year-old domestic partners policy in order to obtain a tax break.
Peri Jude Radecic, executive director of the National Gay & Lesbian Task
Force, called the commissioners' decision "appalling."
"This is the first time we have heard of a government entity using its
power to punish a company for treating its gay and lesbian employees
fairly," Radecic said in Washington.
"As more and more companies adopt these policies motivated by fairness,
the commissioners in Williamson County will learn very quickly that
bigotry is very unprofitable," Radecic said.
Apple currently employes 700 people at a temporary, leased facility in
Austin. Byrne said she did not know if Apple will now consider building
the permanent facility in Austin, which is known for its liberal
politics.
The Austin City Council recently adopted an employee benefits policy for
city workers that is similar to Apple's policy, which provides insurance
coverage and other benefits to its employees' domestic partners,
including homosexuals.
Leticia Vazquez, a spokeswoman for Gov. Ann Richards, said there was
nothing the governor could do about the commissioners' decision, but
that she will talk to Apple officials about other possible sites in
central Texas.
"She will try to talk to them as soon as possible," Vasquez said.
Williamson County commissioners voted 3-2 against Apple's request for a
tax abatement on the project. Three of the commissioners said they
believed Apple's benefits policy goes against the conservative
ommunity's moral values. County Commissioner William Boatright said
previously that Apple's policy would "attract people who are in those
kinds of relationships, and I don't want to encourage that kind of
activity."
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GEORGETOWN, Texas (UPI) -- Commissioners in conservative Williamson
County denied Apple Computer at tax break Tuesday for a new facility
because of the company's employee-benefits plan, which covers same-sex
partners.
Commissioners voted 5-2 against Apple's request for a tax abatement on a
planned $80 million, nine-building complex in Round Rock, Texas, located
just north of Austin.
The proposed facility would create 700 jobs, but three commissioners
said they thought Apple's benefits policy went against the community's
moral values.
Cupertino, Calif.-based Apple offers insurance coverage and other
benefits to its employees' domestic partners, including homosexuals.
County Commissioner William Boatright has previously said Apple's policy
would "attract people who are in those kinds of relationships, and I
don't want to encourage that kind of activity."
But on word of the board's decision, Apple said it might reconsider its
plans to build in Round Rock.
Geoffrey Simmons
>These two articles cover Apple's domestic partnership benefits package
>and how it was greeted in Texas --Julie
>----------------------------------------------------------------
>GEORGETOWN, Texas (UPI) -- A conservative Texas county Tuesday denied a
>tax break sought by Apple Computer for a new facility because of the
>company's employee benefits plan, which covers same-sex partners.
>The decision is likely to cause Williamson County to lose the proposed
>$80 million, nine-building complex in Round Rock, just north of Austin,
>along with the 700 jobs it would have created.
[The rest deleted]
This is *precisely* the danger that bigotry presents to our society as
a whole. If we limit oppurtunities to whole sectors of our population on
arbitrary criteria, all of the talent and hard work that they could have
contributed, if they were allowed to prosper, goes to waste. We *all*
suffer the consequences of discrimination.
This community could have a lucrative, job-creating enterprise in its
midst. They deserve that loss.
Geoff
--
Geoffrey Simmons | sim...@informatik.uni-hamburg.de | "Insert wise
University of Hamburg | Phone: (++49 40) 4123-6151 | and witty
Bodenstedtstr. 16 | Fax: (++49 40) 4123-6159 | quotation
D-22765 Hamburg, Germany | | here."
The Freedom Courier
>This is *precisely* the danger that bigotry presents to our society as
>a whole. If we limit oppurtunities to whole sectors of our population on
>arbitrary criteria, all of the talent and hard work that they could have
>contributed, if they were allowed to prosper, goes to waste. We *all*
>suffer the consequences of discrimination.
>This community could have a lucrative, job-creating enterprise in its
>midst. They deserve that loss.
I believe that it is a good thing for that particular County to have been
up front about their decision to deny Apple the requested tax break and
to have stated their reason for doing so. Can you imagine a same-sex
couple being transferred down to that area? Good God, their lives would
have been absolutely miserable.
When I was in the service I was stationed in Mississippi from 1972-74.
The Air Force had a standing rule at that time that allowed mixed-race
couples to decline a transfer to that and several other States in that
region (I believe Oklahoma and Texas were among them) because of the
hatred and ill-treatment they would face from the largely Christian
population in those places.
Perhaps that rule is no longer in place and perhaps it is because
conditions have become a bit more civilized, or perhaps those same people
have become more adept at not allowing such ugly sentiment to become
readily apparant.
"Nothing can destroy a government more quickly than its failure to
observe its own laws, or worse, its disregard of the charter of its own
existence" - U.S. Supreme Court Justice Tom C. Clark - Mapp vs. Ohio
=========================================================================
Patrick F. Diviney IV --- div...@u.washington.edu
Geoffrey Simmons
>>[Me]
>> If we limit oppurtunities to whole sectors of our population on
>>arbitrary criteria, all of the talent and hard work that they could have
>>contributed, if they were allowed to prosper, goes to waste. We *all*
>>suffer the consequences of discrimination.
>I believe that it is a good thing for that particular County to have been
>up front about their decision to deny Apple the requested tax break and
>to have stated their reason for doing so. Can you imagine a same-sex
>couple being transferred down to that area? Good God, their lives would
>have been absolutely miserable.
>When I was in the service I was stationed in Mississippi from 1972-74.
>The Air Force had a standing rule at that time that allowed mixed-race
>couples to decline a transfer to that and several other States in that
>region (I believe Oklahoma and Texas were among them) because of the
>hatred and ill-treatment they would face from the largely Christian
>population in those places.
Well, I can see that some Apple employees or Air Force families might
not want to live in those places, but really, is this a healthy situation
for anyone involved? Can these communities afford to keep jobs out of the
area because they don't like the people that might take them? In the long
run, they won't be able to keep it up and survive.
> Patrick F. Diviney IV --- div...@u.washington.edu
daniel r. reitman, attorney to be
div...@carson.u.washington.edu (The Freedom Courier) writes:
>>This is *precisely* the danger that bigotry presents to our society as
>>a whole. If we limit oppurtunities to whole sectors of our population on
>>arbitrary criteria, all of the talent and hard work that they could have
>>contributed, if they were allowed to prosper, goes to waste. We *all*
>>suffer the consequences of discrimination.
>>This community could have a lucrative, job-creating enterprise in its
>>midst. They deserve that loss.
>I believe that it is a good thing for that particular County to have been
>up front about their decision to deny Apple the requested tax break and
>to have stated their reason for doing so. Can you imagine a same-sex
>couple being transferred down to that area? Good God, their lives would
>have been absolutely miserable. . . .
Except that Round Rock is about 20 miles from Austin. I can see people moving
to Austin and working at the rejected site, and not having a serious problem.
Dan, ad nauseum
"It is sometimes said that error 'crept' into the trial of a lawsuit. Not so
in the case at bar. It marched in like an army with banners, and trumpets. It
was escorted, and emphasized, and aggravated by the attorney for the state."
State v. Tolson, 248 Iowa 733, 734, 82 N.W.2d 105, 106 (1957).
Jolinda Stephens
"This is *precisely* the danger that bigotry presents to our society as
a whole. If we limit oppurtunities to whole sectors of our population on
arbitrary criteria, all of the talent and hard work that they could have
contributed, if they were allowed to prosper, goes to waste. We *all*
suffer the consequences of discrimination."
Excellent observation.
Jolinda