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SC Senate Strikes Compromise To Get Amazon Back

http://66.225.205.104/0527AmazonComp.mp3

South Carolina's Senate has struck a compromise to lure Amazon back to the state. Amazon had plans to open a distribution center near Columbia that would employ 1,200 people. In exchange, the company wanted the state to give it a five-year exemption from collecting sales tax from online shoppers in South Carolina. The state House didn't go along with that last month and Amazon said the deal was off. But then the company tried again and said it would bring 2,000 jobs if the state granted the tax breaks. Under the compromise the Senate unanimously approved late last night, Amazon basically got its wish. Under the deal, Amazon would notify customers in South Carolina by email that sales tax is owed on their purchases. The shoppers would then be responsible for paying the tax. Senator Shane Massey helped negotiate the compromise. "It's not giving Amazon anything that they don't have already, says Massey. "They are currently selling to South Carolina customers and they're not collecting sales tax from those South Carolina customers. This keeps the same thing. The only difference is that they're going to be employing 2,000 South Carolina citizens. " Amazon would begin collecting the tax in January of 2016. The agreement now goes back to the House for final approval. House leaders have promised to accept the changes to the deal. Governor Nikki Haley says she will allow the bill to become law without her signature.