Speaking to "a ballroom full of bankers, corporate executives and financial analysts, with a guest list that ranged from JPMorgan to PriceWaterhouseCoopers to leading lobbyists," Hizzoner downplayed all the attention that some people give to low tax rates:
When it comes to improving the business climate, “Usually the pundits think of this as lowering taxes,” Bloomberg said in a Wednesday speech in downtown D.C. “But taxes are just one element of the environment — and usually not the most important. The first question most entrepreneurs ask is not can I afford the taxes — it’s not that. It is: Who are my customers, and where do I need to be to serve them, and how do I get up and running quickly?” […] “You show me a business person who cares about his federal tax rate more than his customers, and I’ll show you Darwin at work,” he added.
Mayor Bloomberg: Low taxes aren’t the most important priority for business [Wonkblog/WaPo]
