"If you take a walk...
I'll tax your feet...
- Lennon & McCartney
The news from Capitol Hill is clear and just like the economy... it's grim.
Internet sales tax supporters are convinced that 2013 is their year, and they are determined to pass a new Internet sales tax bill when our out of control "tax everything" Congress (that refuses to face real financial austerity) tackles "corporate tax reform" in spite of the fact that "corporate" and the millions of small American businesses that operate on the Internet seldom share the same anything.
In December, Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), the misguided idiot who smells more and more sources to suck money out of the economy and is the sponsor of Internet sales tax legislation, publicly announced that he had a commitment from the Senate Finance Committee to "take it up early next year and move it to the floor." Why Durbin wants to lead an effort to bleed more and more taxes is something between himself and his big money donors...
Your opinion matters. If you oppose giving state tax collectors new powers to impose and enforce out-of-state sales tax burdens on small businesses that sell via the Internet, now is the time to make your voice heard.
This is not a Republican or Democrat issue - but an issue that deals with the freedom of the worldwide web and the never-ending appetite for some Democrats in Congress to try to tax any and everything that moves.
Take the time to email, call or write to your two Senators and your Congress person... feel free to use, edit and adapt the letter below, but DO SOMETHING!
Dear Member of Congress,
As
your constituent and one of the millions of Americans concerned with this issue, I'm asking you not to impose any new sales tax laws on small
businesses operating on the Internet.
In
the 1992 Quill Decision, the Supreme Court ruled that it was
unconstitutional to allow state tax enforcement authorities to impose
their sales tax laws on small businesses located in other states.
However, an effort backed by giant retailers and a group of state
legislators is trying to push Congress to overturn the Quill Decision
and establish an unfair tax regime that would force small online
businesses to be subject to sales tax laws all across the country,
regardless of where the small business is actually located.
Millions of American small business retailers, would be directly
impacted by any new Internet sales tax system. It would increase the
cost of doing business and shopping on-line, which would hurt sellers
and buyers alike. I believe that small businesses selling via the
Internet should only be subject to the tax laws of the states in which
they operate. Instead of imposing new tax burdens on small businesses, I
would encourage Congress to do EXACTLY the opposite and look at new policies that encourage small
business growth and development on the Internet, which in turn will spur
job growth and increase consumer choice.
As
your constituent, I would ask that you please oppose any efforts to
impose new tax burdens on small businesses operating on the Internet.
Thank you for your support.
Sincerely,
YOUR NAME
YOUR NAME
