ADVOCATES GATHERED TO PROTEST AMAZON AND OTHER CORPORATIONS LOBBYING AGAINST BUILD BACK BETTER AGENDA, URGED SUPPORT FOR FAIR TAXES
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DATE: September 29, 2021
CONTACT:
Elliot Goldbaum, Colorado Fiscal Institute, 303-990-6691
Ellie Lapp, Together Colorado, 720-618-4540
(DENVER, CO) September 29, 2021 – Community organizers, leaders, and advocates for corporate accountability held a public demonstration today outside an Amazon corporate office in downtown Denver to call attention to the company’s multi-million dollar lobbying efforts against President Biden’s Build Back Better Agenda. The protest was part of a national day of action with other events across the country targeting corporate entities. The protest comes on the heels of a newly released report highlighting hundreds of millions of dollars in lobbying by huge corporations against the Build Back Better agenda.
“Amazon and companies like it are lobbying against the Build Back Better plan to keep their taxes low,” said Caroline Nutter, tax policy analyst with the Colorado Fiscal Institute. “That’s why we were out there protesting today: to make sure they pay their fair share, and to make sure we use that money to invest in the kind of economy that we want. One that supports workers, families, and our future.”
While Amazon was the target of this action, those in attendance highlighted many companies that are spending big to keep the status quo of low corporate taxes and inherently opposing the investments in the enormously popular Build Back Better agenda. Recent polling from multiple national public opinion research firms (Hart Research Associates, Data For Progress, and BlueGreen Alliance) shows overwhelming support for the investments in direct assistance to workers and families who are struggling to make ends meet, create millions of good-paying union jobs dedicated to building the climate infrastructure we need, expand affordable housing options, investments in health care, and other programs in the budget reconciliation bill currently being considered by Congress.
“All across the country, care workers, who are predominantly women of color, provide compassionate skilled care that allows our elders and those with disabilities in our communities to live with dignity,” said Cody Jakubowski a care worker with Colorado Care Workers Unite. “But we aren’t even being paid enough to afford stable housing. This is a crisis, and it doesn’t just impact care workers, it impacts the people who depend on our care, too.”
This action comes as numerous news sources reveal that corporations are spending millions to tank popular, progressive provisions in the budget package that would deliver direct assistance to millions of struggling families and people, and make real investments in our economy and our ability to protect our communities from climate change.
“We call on you to become partners with us instead of our adversaries,” added Rev. Jessica Abell, leader with Together Colorado. “With hope and invitation, we ask you to put down the violence of capitalism and join us.”
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