Google gags politicians

THE SEARCH outfit Google tried to gag politicians in a bid to influence legislation designed to move the outfit to Caldwell County.

According to the Charlotte Observer, Google demanded that politicians never speak the company name, and told them off when word of its interest in North Carolina leaked out. This was a bit mean as the politicians were working on a bill to remove much of its tax burden, if Google came to the area.

But Google's hisses did not stop there. At one point it threatened to end negotiations because the County's legislative staff didn't write exactly what it wanted.

Google called in State Commerce Secretary Jim Fain to "prevail upon" the bill writer to do as he was told.

According to public documents found by the Observer, the papers reveal an outfit which is obsessed with secrecy and not above bullying, tactics that helped get it tax breaks that could top $100 million over three decades.

It must have worked though. This month, Google announced that it would build a new computer centre in Lenoir, bringing as much as $600 million in investment and as many as 200 jobs.

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