12 Days of Corporate Giveaways: Amazon Paid No Taxes for 2018 Thanks To Collins-Backed Tax Bill

As we approach the two-year anniversary of Senator Collins’ vote for the GOP tax bill, Maine Democrats will highlight how Senator Collins put corporate special interests ahead of hardworking Mainers in a series we’re calling the “12 Days of Corporate Tax Giveaways” ☃️

The GOP tax law allowed Amazon to pay no taxes on $10.8 billion in profits last year. Senator Collins supported the bill after accepting thousands of dollars from Amazon’s Corporate PAC in the months leading up to her vote.

While Amazon was allowed to slash its tax rate to zero, families across Maine were hit hard by the GOP tax bill. Mainers have been forced to contend with increased health care premiums and a new marriage penalty, all while the law has sparked a lawsuit that threatens coverage protections for the nearly 600,000 Mainers who have a pre-existing condition. Even many Gold Star families have seen their taxes spike under the new law.

“Senator Collins voted to help out her corporate special interest donors at the expense of Maine families,” said Maine Democratic Party Executive Director Lisa Roberts. “It’s clear that corporate special interests in Washington know they can count on Collins to continue putting them first and they’re bankrolling her reelection effort to keep it that way. Mainers have an opportunity to stand up to the corrupting influence of money in politics, and we’re going to do that by defeating Senator Collins in 2020.”

Collins received $3,500 from Amazon’s Corporate PAC after she voted for a bill that helped Amazon pay $0 in federal taxes

2018: Amazon’s Corporate PAC gave $3,500 to Collins

2018: Amazon’s Corporate PAC Donated $3,500 To Collins And Her Leadership PAC. [FEC, accessed 12/4/19]

Amazon made $10.8 billion in profits but paid no federal taxes, thanks in part to the “magic of the 2017 tax bill”

Amazon Made $10.8 Billion In Profits But Paid No Taxes Thanks In Part To The “Magic Of The 2017 Tax Bill.”  “Below, according to ITEP, is a list of the 26 companies that raked in at least $1 billion in profits but — through the magic of the 2017 tax bill, edgy accounting practices, special carveouts and corporate tax shelters — did not pay anything to the government on their earnings. […] Amazon: $10.8 billion.” [Rolling Stone, 4/15/19]