While most Americans suffering from the hard times cut their expenses and take second jobs, the insatiable appetite of pols grows. One possible benefit from the recession is it forces most of individuals and business to re-evaluate spending and priorities. That makes for a leaner and more efficient household or company as things improve. Politicians seem to be incapable of cutting anything and are too quick to blame that sales tax boogyman, the Internet. First it was North Carolina, next it’s Rhode Island. At issue are sales that were not shipped from either state, nor delivered there in most cases. In both cases, the states are now to lose more than they could have possible gained, because Amazon has pulled the plug on affiliates operating from both of those states. It’s time for state governments to get efficient, and maybe help get some bigger pipes built if they want to improve thier lagging revenues. Killing a small income stream for bloggers who are unfortunate enough to live in their states helps no one.

Amazon.com Inc. cut ties today with its business affiliates in Rhode Island to protest a provision in the draft state budget that would force the company to collect sales tax, Providence Business News has confirmed.

Rhode Island is now the second state where affiliates in the program, known as Amazon Associates, have been cut off over the sales tax issue. Earlier this month the Seattle-based online retailer also closed its affiliates’ accounts in North Carolina. (Providence Business News)