Social groups call for Amazon boycott

A coalition of advocates for improved health, welfare and social services is calling for a boycott of Amazon until the giant Internet retailer drops a referendum aimed at overturning a new law requiring it to collect sales taxes on goods purchased by Californians.

This is according to the Los Angeles Times which adds that at a news conference on the steps of the state Capitol, the organisation, dubbed the Think Before You Click campaign, asked Amazon shoppers to cancel their accounts.

The Bay Citizen reports that the boycott - and an online petition at Think Before You Click CA.org - is backed by many Democratic members of the state legislature, including East Bay Assemblywoman Nancy Skinner and State Senator Loni Hancock.

Billions of dollars in state budget cuts have already eliminated adult day care and in home support services for the elderly and disabled, and have forced both the University of California and California State University systems to raise tuition.

Amazon recently poured $3 million on a referendum to overturn California's new online sales tax law, reports ABC.

The Seattle-based company didn't comment on the boycott but supporters of the referendum say the US Supreme Court has ruled such tax laws are unconstitutional.