Critics are accusing Apple of backroom dealing over the fact that the Arizona HB2005 bill that would affected app stores was never voted upon (via The Verge).
Arizona HB2005
The HB2005 bill would change the way app store providers like Apple and Google did business, like letting developers use their own payment systems, thus bypassing the 30% “app tax.”
Protocol reported in March that both tech giants had hired lobbyists to fight the bill: “Apple tapped its own lobbyist, Rod Diridon, to begin lobbying in Arizona. It hired Kirk Adams, the former chief of staff to Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey and speaker of the Arizona House of Representatives, to negotiate with Cobb on its behalf.”
The Arizona Senate was due to vote on the bill Wednesday during its session. However, although HB2005 was first on the agenda, it wasn’t introduced to vote upon. Basecamp co-founder David Heinemeier Hansson, who submitted testimony in support of the bill, claims Apple hired a former chief of staff to Arizona Governor Doug Ducey to “broker a deal” to stop the bill.
According to the report, Rep. Cobb, the bill’s sponsor, did not respond to a request for comment. The Arizona governor’s office and the office of the Arizona State Senate Majority Leader Rick Gray (R-21) also did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
“Basecamp co-founder David Heinemeier Hansson, who submitted testimony in support of the bill, claims Apple hired a former chief of staff to Arizona Governor Doug Ducey to “broker a deal” to stop the bill.”
So it is okay for Basecamp to lobby for the bill, but not for Apple to lobby against it?