Big Box Store Hypocrycy

It has been widely publicized that the institution of Affiliate Nexus Tax Laws was instigated by big box stores, the biggest of all proportudly being the leader of the pack.  I won't mention any certain names, but I think most people can guess.  Now, oddly enough THAT particular big box store has it's own affiliate marketing program and does a significant amount of online business.  I belive this is just a move for this particular big box store to attempt to eliminate all of their online competition, Amazon in particular.

Unfortunately, way before this law has even been enacted, some advertisers have been dropping their PA affiliates.  I received this e-mail from one of the advertisers I was promoting early in 2012, and I had even sold thousands of dollars worth of merchandise for this particular retailer on E-Bay BEFORE I was even in their affiliate program.

Due to Pennsylvania implementing Affiliate Nexus Tax Law, we are compelled to unfortunately terminate this program for Pennsylvania-based Publishers.
As a result, we will terminate contracts with all Pennsylvania Publishers that are participants in the XXXXXXXXXXXX Affiliate program as of January 1, 2012. As of the termination date, Pennsylvania residents will no longer receive commissions for sales referred to XXXXXXXXXXXX .com or XXXXXXXXXXXX .com. Please be assured that all qualifying commissions earned on or before January 1, 2012 will be processed and paid in full in accordance with the regular payment schedule.
You are receiving this email because our records indicate that you are a resident of Pennsylvania. If you are not currently a resident of Pennsylvania, or if you are relocating to another state in the near future, please contact us for reinstatement into the XXXXXXXXXXXX Affiliate Program.
Regards,
XXXXXXXXXXXX Affiliate Team

PA affiliates, contact your state representatives and let's get this law buried.  http://www.house.state.pa.us/

Will the Rug Get Pulled Out From Under PA Affilates

I can't help wondering if the PA government will continue with this foolishness of trying to impose an Affiliate Nexus Tax Law.  I've spent many long hours trying to iron out the kinks and bugs in how to write blogs that earn a little income, finally with some success.  Now, I worry that come September the rug will get pulled out from under me and all my work will be for naught.  I had dreams earning enough extra money to be able to pay off my kids' student loans and maybe have a little income to fall back on during my retirement years without having to get a part-time job cleaning toilets for some rich Malibu Beach actor (or maybe even someone poor, but with more money than me!!!)

Hopefully, some PA politicians will read this blog and maybe their votes will be swayed to overturn this ridiculous bill.  Maybe there aren't as many affiliates in PA as there were in California, but I'm sure that there are some that are relying in part or all in the income they receive as affiliate marketers.  Without that income, what do they do?  It isn't exactly like there is a booming job market in America at the moment.  Every month I watch CNN and see the reports of big a per cent of the population is on unemployment, and I hear stories about people who have been looking for jobs for a whole year or more.  I personally know people who have had to move out of the housing and move back in with their parents (How does it feel to have to go to your parents and tell them you can't pay your rent or mortgage?).  What happens with their kids when they get sick and they have no jobs, and therefore no benefits such as healthcare coverage?

Affiliate marketing could be a way out for some of those people that would keep them off food stamps and welfare roles, and give them a positive image of themselves.

So, let your lawmakers know how bad this proposed law is going to be for a lot of people, and how it is even going to take away potential for people who can't find a regular job.  If our lawmakers don't bend to our well, remember, we have the right to vote and we can vote them GONE!!!!!