Rand Paul blasts Senate for bullying Apple

[jct74]

Rand Paul blasts Senate for bullying Apple

May 21, 2013 | 10:29 am
by Charlie Spiering

Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., this morning blasted his Senate colleagues for holding a hearing to investigate Apple for moving assets offshore to avoid taxes.

A Senate investigation revealed that Apple shielded at least $74 billion in profits between 2009 and 2012 by setting up subsidiaries in Ireland.

“I’m offended by a government who convenes a hearing to bully an American success story,” Paul said, adding that the company was unfairly required to sit through a Senate hearing.

Paul made his remarks during a Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations hearing with Apple CEO Tim Cook.

“We should have brought into here today a giant mirror,” Paul added, reminding the senators present that they were the problem.

Sen. Carl Levin, D-Mich., fired back at Paul for his criticism reminding him that Apple had dodged taxes by moving assets overseas.

“Apple’s a great company, but no company should should be able to decide how much taxes to pay,” Levin said sternly.

http://washingtonexaminer.com/rand-paul-blasts-senate-for-bullying-apple/article/2530160

 

[jct74]

Rand Paul criticizes Senate hearing on Apple’s tax tactics

By TONY ROMM | 5/21/13 10:28 AM EDT

Sen. Rand Paul is slamming Congress for slamming Apple’s tax tactics.

The Republican senator called a hearing Tuesday a “show trial,” adding he’s “offended by the tone.” And Paul said lawmakers are “bullying, berating and badgering one of America’s greatest success stories,” before asking rhetorically: “Who doesn’t minimize their taxes?” Paul said he felt the problem is the tax code, and urged members of Congress “apologize” to Apple.

“If anyone should be on trial here, it should be Congress,” Paul continued, touting his bill to lower the tax rate on repatriated profits and devote the new funds to infrastructure.

http://www.politico.com/story/2013/05/apple-tax-hearing-rand-paul-91663.html

 

[compromise]

Yet Apple are donating thousands to the very people Rand is "blasting"...

 

[jct74]

Rand Paul apologizes to Apple for Senate probe

By Brendan Sasso - 05/21/13 10:44 AM ET

Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) blasted his colleagues on Tuesday for holding a hearing to examine Apple's techniques for avoiding taxes.

"I frankly think the committee should apologize to Apple," Paul said during a hearing of the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations.

Paul said he was offended by the "tone and tenor of the hearing."

"I'm offended by the spectacle of dragging in executives from an American company that is not doing anything illegal," Paul said, adding that Congress is to blame for the convoluted federal tax code.

"Instead of Apple executives, we should have brought in here today a giant mirror," Paul said.

...

read more:
http://thehill.com/blogs/hillicon-v...and-paul-apologizes-to-apple-for-senate-probe

 

[JCDenton0451]

Yet Apple are donating thousands to the very people Rand is "blasting"...

John McCain is attacking Apple. This is our chance to score points on old fart.

 

[jct74]

I'm watching the hearing on CSPAN right now, I don't know if Rand is still present or not.

 

[jct74]

Rand speaking right now.

 

[supermario21]

Awesome prosecution by Rand right now.

 

[rockandrollsouls]

Honestly, I break with Rand here. I have absolutely no sympathy for the mega-corporations that can only thrive in this manner because of the handouts they receive from government and the way in which they game the system. Let's be truthful; Apple, and other large corporations, have gotten away with a lot of things due to government.

 

[Randslide]

Let's be truthful; Apple, and other large corporations, have gotten away with a lot of things due to government.

Isn't that Rand's point?

 

[supermario21]

Lol McCain back to suck up to Levin...

 

[asurfaholic]

Yet Apple are donating thousands to the very people Rand is "blasting"...

That could change. Imagine how much better off ron Paul would have done if he had the corporate dollar. The Rand machine is potentially in a great position....

 

[supermario21]

This isn't about handouts. This is about the government having a punitive tax code which drives companies overseas and then using crony capitalist tactics to bring them back. Rand is advocating for simplifying the whole damn thing.

 

[Cowlesy]

Awwwww, old bulls McCain and Levin are "offended" by Rand Paul not pulling his punches.

 

[brandon]

Ahh did I miss a McCain reply to Rand? Awaiting the youtube.

 

[supermario21]

Hey, we might have apple backing us in 2016!

Ashley Codianni ‏@AshleyCodianni 6m
Tim Cook seems to be enjoying @SenRandPaul argument that shudn't vilify #apple for legally maxing profits

 

[jct74]

on HuffPo front page, a few stories down
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/05/21/rand-paul-apple_n_3312875.html

this is sure to stir some liberal ire.

 

[helmuth_hubener]

Honestly, I break with Rand here. I have absolutely no sympathy for the mega-corporations that can only thrive in this manner because of the handouts they receive from government and the way in which they game the system. Let's be truthful; Apple, and other large corporations, have gotten away with a lot of things due to government.

The issue Mr. Paul and the Congressslimes are discussing is not some piece of land Apple has gotten through eminent domain or some questionable way they've used the patent system. They are discussing their action to move money overseas and thus deprive the Washington DC goons of money.

Depriving goons in Washington DC of money is an extremely reasonable, unimpeachably libertarian, and imminently beneficient action. It is one we should all applaud with all possible enthusiasm. A standing ovation for Apple and its clever Irish subsidiary creation.

 

[supermario21]

Tim Cook pretty much pushes for Rand's tax plan.

 

[Cowlesy]

It's hilarious, you see that Levin is trying to play gotcha with these Apple executives. He should go you-know-what up a rope.