The Pravda Columbian tries to scam a tax cut.

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The fact of the matter is this: newspapers are no more deserving of any kind of tax cut than any other business. And our local democrat propaganda organ, least of all.

That newspaper is trying to hang on might be admirable, but their time has passed, and this effort, which would merely delay the inevitable, is something that we simply cannot afford.

Newspapers already are exempt from collecting sales tax. That the guys who own newspapers in this state apparently don't get that all businesses, including mine, are facing hard times.

Blethen said he understands that lawmakers may wonder why newspapers should get tax relief when other businesses are hurting.

"The answer is the unique role of newspapers," he said. "The unique role that they play in society and the unique role that they play in our self-government and the unique role they play in binding and creating community."

If newspapers actually were fair and unbiased, I would tend to agree. If they lacked an agenda that causes them to lie, cheat, attack THEIR opponents while giving those they support a pass, then the statement made by Frank Blethen, publisher of the Seattle Times, might be true.

But our own newspaper makes not even a remote pretense of fairness. When you're not on the "acceptable" list they engage in attacks that run the range of censorship in their comment section to supporting only democrats for open seats to attacking and advocating for democrat candidates as if they were getting a check.

They refuse to provide anything approaching equal time to the major opposition to their vision of how our lives should live, including in massively and irresponsibly expensive ways.

No.... newspapers are nothing special. They're obsolete and frequently do much more damage then good... like the moronic editorial they printed here locally, today.

No.... no tax break for newspapers... unless we ALL get a tax break. Because, like the auto makers, this is just the first of many asks... and this "camel's nose under the tent flap" approach THIS year will be followed up with bigger asks NEXT year, and the year after and the year after that.

Absolutely not.

Originally published February 18, 2009 at 4:48 PM | Page modified February 18, 2009 at 6:32 PM

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Newspaper publishers seek tax cut

Newspaper publishers want lawmakers to give them a temporary break on the state's main business tax. Seattle Times publisher Frank Blethen and Scott Campbell, publisher of The Columbian in Vancouver, say they need help during tumultuous times in the industry.

By RACHEL LA CORTE

The Associated Press

OLYMPIA — Newspaper publishers implored lawmakers on Wednesday to give them a temporary break on the state's main business tax, saying that some of the state's papers are "holding on by our fingertips."

Seattle Times publisher Frank Blethen and Scott Campbell, publisher of The Columbian in Vancouver, told the Senate Ways and Means Committee they need help during tumultuous times in the industry.

Under the proposed measure, the business and occupation tax on newspapers would be cut by 40 percent through 2015.

Blethen said a state tax break wouldn't fix all that ails newspapers, but it would help them preserve jobs.

The loss of advertising revenue, mixed with the current economic climate, has put weekly and daily newspapers in the state under "tremendous financial pressure," he said.

"Some of us, like The Seattle Times, are literally holding on by our fingertips today," Blethen said.

Newspapers across the state have resorted to buyouts and freezes on pensions and retirement plan contributions to stem the financial free-fall.

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