I'm hearing that the Arizona bill to stop app stores from forcing a minority of app developers to use the platform's exorbitantly priced payment processing systems will come up for a vote TODAY! As a refresher, here's my testimony from Monday. world.hey.com/dhh/testimony-…
In a truly bizarre twist, though, the main opposition to this bill is coming from Arizona democrats. After all the work that @davidcicilline, @linamkhan, and others put into the scathing congressional report on big tech/app store monopoly abuses, it's a sad turn of politics.
Maybe @ZephyrTeachout, @Sally_Hubbard, @DinaSrinivasan, @stacyfmitchell, @ewarren, and other strong antitrust women on the left can help @AZHouseDems understand the gravity that's at stake here, and convince the democrats how sorely this is needed.
Make no mistake: This bill is the most consequential piece of legislation to constrain big tech's monopoly abuses since the term "big tech" was coined. This is not a report. This is real relief. And it could be coming NOW.
It's also not a complicated bill! It's really simple: Let all app developers, not just Uber, Facebook, and other giants, pick their own payment processor. And stop Apple and Google from retaliating against those who do. You can read it in 3 minutes! 
If this bill passes, we could immediately start offering a better version of @heyhey to Arizona residents. One where you could signup in the app, manage your subscription in the app, change your credit card, the works. We'd start working on that the minute this bill passes.
Hell, Basecamp already has nexus in Arizona. We would absolutely look into relocating the company to Arizona, if this passes. Arizona would be the most attractive place on earth to run a software business that sells services through the app stores.
Imagine being able to actually compete against Gmail and iCloud mail without fighting with one hand tied behind our back! Customers could signup directly in the apps. No more confusing second, dead-end pathway to shuttle app users down to comply with Apple's gag order 😍
"We really need to be cautious about calling Apple and Google monopolies. We don't need to meddle in any private contracts" is what the Arizona democrats are pushing in their caucus video chat. Did anyone of them even @davidcicilline and his committee's report??
The Investigation of Competition in Digital Markets report prepared by @davidcicilline's commission directly addressed this problem. Apple has monopoly power, developers don't have any leverage to negotiate "private contracts".
The report really should be required reading for any legislator looking at this issue. Read this part of the testimony from a former Apple executive admitting to the fact that the App Store is used as a competitive weapon.
Arizona democrats like @Jennifer_Pawlik, @JennJermaine, and @AndreaforAZ should listen closely to their fellow party member @davidcicilline deliver his opening statement on the trouble with big tech. Just listen for the first five minutes. Powerful.
I hear the vote has been pushed back to early next week. Hopefully that'll be enough time for the Arizona democrats to study the issue, listen to @davidcicilline, @repkenbuck, and others from the antitrust subcommittee. This is a bipartisan issue, and Arizona could lead the way!
I'd be happy to speak to any representatives who wants to ask questions of someone in the thick of this about it. @dramishshah, @kellibutleraz, @aaron4az, @mezaarizona. Can't offer any lobbyist dinners or favors, but I can help educate with facts and experiences you can check 🙏
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