So, a tax bill was signed into law today by Cali’s new Governator (does that title still work? we’ve still got a jack ass…) Jerry Brown, who is on his second round after being Governor in the late 70’s early 80’s and a brief run for a presidential bid in 1992 (and apparently a few others before I became conscious of current events).
Well, today Brown 2.0 essentially put the kibosh on all Affiliates programs in the state of California. Because small business owners don’t live under a large enough pile of shit, please Governor Brown, pile on a bit more…the stinkier the better.
I first heard of it via email from Amazon Affiliates late last night, and today have received the following letters of note:
FROM AMAZON:
Hello,
Unfortunately, Governor Brown has signed into law the bill that we emailed you about earlier today. As a result of this, contracts with all California residents participating in the Amazon Associates Program are terminated effective today, June 29, 2011. Those California residents will no longer receive advertising fees for sales referred to Amazon.com, Endless.com, MYHABIT.COM or SmallParts.com. Please be assured that all qualifying advertising fees earned before today 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 California. If you are not currently a resident of California, or if you are relocating to another state in the near future, you can manage the details of your Associates account here. And if you relocate to another state in the near future please contact us for reinstatement into the Amazon Associates Program.
To avoid confusion, we would like to clarify that this development will only impact our ability to offer the Associates Program to California residents and will not affect your ability to purchase from Amazon.com, Endless.com, MYHABIT.COM or SmallParts.com.
We have enjoyed working with you and other California-based participants in the Amazon Associates Program and, if this situation is rectified, would very much welcome the opportunity to re-open our Associates Program to California residents. As mentioned before, we are continuing to work on alternative ways to help California residents monetize their websites and we will be sure to contact you when these become available.
Regards,
The Amazon Associates Team
FROM DIAPERS.COM {via Google Affiliates}
Dear The818.com,
We regret to inform you that your affiliate relationship with Diapers.com has been deactivated by the advertiser.
Unfortunately, Governor Brown has signed into law the bill that was emailed to you on June 29, 2011. As a result of this, contracts with all California residents participating in the Google Affiliate Network program are terminated effective yesterday, June 29, 2011. Those California residents will no longer receive advertising fees for sales referred to www.diapers.com, www.soap.com, www.beautybar.com. Please be assured that all qualifying advertising fees earned before June 29, 2011 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 California. If you are not currently a resident of California, or if you are relocating to another state in the near future, please change the address associated with you r Google Affiliate Network account for potential reinstatement as a Quidsi, Inc. marketing affiliate.
To avoid confusion, we would like to clarify that this development will only impact our ability to work with California marketing affiliates and will not affect your ability to purchase from www.diapers.com, www.soap.com, www.beautybar.com.
We have enjoyed working with you and other California-based participants and, if this situation is rectified, would very much welcome the opportunity to re-open our Google Affiliate Network program to California residents.
Regards,
Quidsi, Inc.
I don’t know what to think or say really. I haven’t done enough research yet. I simply know that a bill I first caught wind of yesterday just took a large bite out of what keeps this blog, a part of a small business I have sacrificed more than I could possibly put into words (and that’s a lot) running.
What the hell is going on? Bloggageddon? Small Businsess-a-geddon? (Either way, I’m wiped out, and hanging on to Hollywood of all things for dear life.) What do you think? Flair for the dramatic, or totally appropriate urge to run through the streets with a clever catchphrase trying to rally the people for god knows what?
…Although I remember vague echoes of having heard something about there maybe possibly finally being a California Tax Credit for productions? Or am I so freaked out by the current state of our economy that I’m just getting straight delusional?
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