I was troubled last week seeing the CEO of Intel in the Oval Office glowing with President Trump, while talking about finishing the creation of a plant in Arizona. Intel (and many other businesses) already pay little to no taxes in many States, including Oregon.
What was not mentioned were the recent layoffs in Oregon. Intel has a history of promising jobs in exchange for the massive tax breaks and other benefits, then later issuing layoff notices, keeping skeleton crews here to ensure their assistances. The remainder of employees is laid off, jobs are shipped overseas to the Philippines and other low cost countries, and then are replaced with contract employees, who receive no benefits, and are subject to release at will.
It seems to me this shell game gives the president and CEOs great press, while the taxpayers pick up the bill, and employees lose employment, benefits, and stability. The elimination of regulations for these companies also hurts the public with environmental and safety issues, but also impacts employment, as it is not just regulations being done away with, it is the people doing these jobs. I do not feel the American pride in this.
Shannon Olsen, Beaverton
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