Senators Spar Over Internet Access Taxes

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A4143-2003Nov21.html

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An increasingly acrimonious battle over the size and scope of a bill to permanently ban Internet access taxes has led to an impasse in the U.S. Senate that could derail the proposal altogether.

Congress was expected to complete action on the bill before lawmakers adjourn for the year, but several senators representing states that stand to lose tax revenue if the proposal becomes law are blocking the measure, arguing that it would prevent state and local governments from taxing a raft of other Internet-based products and services.

Sen. Thomas Carper (D-Del.) said he will block plans by the moratorium's chief sponsors -- Sens. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and George Allen (R-Va.) -- to include it in a massive $284 billion federal spending package.

Carper said that the moratorium bill's language is so broadly written that it would free telecommunications carriers from a range of taxes that provide critical funding for state and local governments

as well as products provided over the internet just as we would those purchased in a store. The states are getting screwed and BIG BIZ is taking advantage of this. Internet access is just like the phone or mailing a letter. The states need the bucks folks!!! a few additional $$$ won't kill us. ISPs can act as pass thru entities to get the bucks to the states. Online sellers can collect and pay just like they do on their in-store sales. The Internet as commerce is now mature enough to handle this.