Here comes the Internet sales tax grab
State governments — now suffering from spending binges, fiscal mismanagement, and exploding budgets — are starving for new tax revenue. Brick-and-mortar stores and the commercial real estate lobby — reeling from the bad economy — are desperate for a leg up on online competition. They’ve teamed up to renew their years-long push for Congress to effectively impose Internet sales taxes and turn online retailers into tax collectors. A bill will reportedly be introduced on the Hill this week by GOP Sen. Mike Enzi and Democrat Rep. Bill Delahunt.
The New York Post sums up the possible legislative implications with a helpful graphic:
Do members of Congress really want to facilitate a new tax increase right now? The state government/brick-and-mortar lobby are using a “fairness” argument to defend the proposal. But many of the same commercial real estate developers now demanding tax equity themselves received preferential tax treatment and subsidies. And what about President Obama’s promise not to raise taxes of any kind on families making under $250,000? Where is the revenue neutrality? And where does this end?
The pro-tax forces think they’ll have an easy time ramming their Internet sales tax legislation through.
Tea Party activists, are you listening?
***
From CNET, a look at how the pro-tax forces’ simplification proposal is not what it seems:
The final legislation is expected to be introduced by Sen. Mike Enzi, a Wyoming Republican, and Rep. Bill Delahunt, a Massachusetts Democrat, who have championed similar proposals in the past. Delahunt’s office on Wednesday confirmed he was interested; Enzi’s did not respond.
On the other side are the Direct Marketing Association, the Electronic Retailing Association, and companies including eBay, L.L. Bean, and Overstock.com. One of their biggest objections to the idea of collecting sales taxes on out-of-state shipments is the dizzying complexity of state laws.
Take candy, which would seem to be a straightforward item to tax. It isn’t. During a 2003 discussion of tax policy, a representative of Indiana, James Turner, noted that a proposed definition of candy would have taxed the Milky Way Midnight candy bar but not the original Milky Way bar.
But further investigation showed that Turner’s counter-proposal would have treated “certain flavors of Pop Tarts” and Cookies and Twix Crunchy Cookie Bars as candy–but not Cookies and Snickers Crunchy Cookie Bars. Peanut butter Girl Scout cookies would be candy, but Thin Mints or Caramel deLites would be classified as food.
Bizarre distinctions like this, coupled with the existence of more than 7,000 different tax agencies, are why the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that out-of-state retailers generally couldn’t be obligated to collect sales taxes unless Congress changes the law…
…”The states are desperate for new revenue and I think they realize they’re straying far from the simplification they originally promised,” said Steve DelBianco, executive director of NetChoice, which counts as members AOL, eBay, NewsCorp, Oracle, Verisign, and Yahoo. “That creates an urgency on their part–to get the federal mandate before it becomes clear they have no intention to simplify.”
“They have no real intention of simplifying or compensating sellers for the burdens of collecting,” DelBianco said. “It’s a shell game.”
See what others have said
Note from Michelle: This section is for comments from michellemalkin.com's community of registered readers. Please don't assume that I agree with or endorse any particular comment just because I let it stand. A reminder: Anyone who fails to comply with my terms of use may lose his or her posting privilege.
Comments
You must be logged in to post a comment.
 |
CPAC vs. the Occupiers: Keep calm and carry silly string
February 9, 2012 10:15 AM by Michelle Malkin
109 Comments
Femme-a-gogue Debbie Wasserman Schultz smears Tea Party, exploits Tucson massacre anniversary
January 11, 2012 02:13 PM by Michelle Malkin
185 Comments
Romney: I’m the Ideal Tea Party Candidate; Update: Des Moines Register Endorses Romney
December 17, 2011 04:05 PM by Doug Powers
158 Comments
New DNC Ad Portrays Newt Gingrich as Tea Party Godfather
December 11, 2011 11:59 AM by Doug Powers
105 Comments
Occupy Wall Street Shuts Down Production of Law & Order Episode About Occupy Wall Street
December 9, 2011 03:20 PM by Doug Powers
67 Comments
Document drop: What Scholastic is teaching your kids about the Occupiers
December 9, 2011 11:30 AM by Michelle Malkin
102 Comments
Video: On Beltway Newt, Cupcake Mitt, and Lame-Duck Barney
December 1, 2011 09:12 AM by Michelle Malkin
163 Comments
Categories: Tea Party
Redstate
» Morning Briefing for February 14, 2012Pundit & Pundette
» Bishop Jenky, Nicki Minaj, and the "98%"Sister Toldjah
» Obama’s new budget is a bad jokeJustOneMinute
» We Hear From The Department Of Good Ideas And False Choices
Get your crap for sale on ebay now! It won’t take them long to pass this stupid bill now that there’s an ‘emergency.’ (Of their own creation, of course.)
California already requires a sales tax if the company is in CA, and asks us to report “unpaid” CA sales tax from on-line vendors outside the state. Of course who actually does report these? I am getting really uncomfortable with all these hand in my pockets. Don’t we call that being molested?
He broke that promise when he raised the tobacco tax, might as well start going after the under 250k crowd.
Of course the proposed solution is more taxes, not less.
Here in Georgia, there is a diferent sales tax for every town and county. Each has the ability to add a “Local option sales tax” to the other sales taxes. This will be a nightmare for any internet corp. to keep up with. Add to that the additional government personnel to monitor the sales tax collection and payment, and it could make sales over the internet not cost effective.
As a small business owner who buys most of my supplies on the internet because they are not otherwise available, my cost, and the price for my service, will have to go up. The people who use my service will pay the price even if they don’t order anything from the internet.
Not me, not with the amount of CA taxes I already pay.
Bought my last HDTV in 2007 via Amazon.
Waiting for Panasonic’s new 54″ plasma to come out, will get that via Amazon as well.
CA gets no tax (they call it ‘revenue’) and local retailers get no sales.
Nice job CA!
#5 – Trickle down *Debt-e-nomics*…
I have absolutely no problem with an internet sales tax, or a state/county sales tax, either – providing they do away completely with all income taxes, both federal and state, and keep their hands off my dividends(such as they are) and out of my children’s inheritance. I figure if the sales tax totals ten percent of any purchase, I’m still money ahead of the combined income taxes I now have to pay.
But, but, but NOBODY making under $250,000 will see their taxes rise….. lying sacks of garbage… like we don’t know that user fees as well are taxes?….
Do we need any more reasons for term limits? sheesh!
Hmmm. I guess the only people who shop online are those who make over $250,000 a year, just like the only people who use tobacco are those who make over $250,000 a year.
I mean, everyone who makes less than $250,000 a year is supposed to get a tax cut, right? So how else can we explain all these tax increases?
I was wondering how long it was going to take the dc bunch to do this. They can not stand to keep their greedy hands off every penny we make. I have a feeling our 401k, IRA, etc. will be next for ‘a one time tax’ on what we have in there.
L
And too bad they can’t spell “simplify”!
Queue John Lennon:
Let me tell you how it will be
There’s one for you, nineteen for me
‘Cause I’m the taxman, yeah, I’m the taxman
Should five per cent appear too small
Be thankful I don’t take it all
‘Cause I’m the taxman, yeah I’m the taxman
If you drive a car, I’ll tax the street,
If you try to sit, I’ll tax your seat.
If you get too cold I’ll tax the heat,
If you take a walk, I’ll tax your feet.
Don’t ask me what I want it for
If you don’t want to pay some more
‘Cause I’m the taxman, yeah, I’m the taxman
Now my advice for those who die
Declare the pennies on your eyes
‘Cause I’m the taxman, yeah, I’m the taxman
And you’re working for no one but me.
I used to shop on-line at Lands End, until they teamed up with Sears (what were they not thinking?) which grounded Lands End in the State of Virginia, which allowed VA to collect sales tax on any online transactions I made with Lands End.
I no longer shop on-line at Lands End, and also do not bother to go to Sears to see what little is on display.
Wonder how those who use eBay feel about having to pay taxes on their transactions.
That was George Harrison.
Did this RINO blockhead learn nothing from the teaparties? He should do himself a favor and just become a democrat.
I do. I figure since I use tax software and file electronically, no one would believe I don’t buy off the internet. I toss in a token amount. CA may get desperate enough to comb through tax returns for missed tax collecting opportunities. At least I won’t be suspect by having a zero on that line. : )
The tax is already on the books of most states, it’s called USE tax and you’re supposed to pay it at your local rate when you buy something out of state. The intent is to make a level playing field for local merchants. Two items being sold, one local one from out of state, for the same price can be bought for less from the out of state vendor. So to even the playing field (and this goes back long before the internet) a use tax was imposed taxing the first “user” of the product.
The problem for states has always been how to force a vendor to collect if they don’t have a physical location in the state. Thus the need for the SCOTUS decision mentioned above. Last I heard (when I left the Utah Tax Commission) was that the complexities of regulating all of the various state’s sales tax laws would make it too burdensome on business and was put on hold by the NATA (National Association of Tax Administrators). Now it seems to be making a come back due to the drop in state revenue. And as mentioned in the article, the complexities have only gotten worse. But in Utah at least, there are so many exemptions and vague definitions that it is never going to be easy. I can’t imagine trying to file 50 monthly sales tax returns.
Sometime in the early 90′s Utah started adding a line item to it’s income tax return so people could voluntarily report their use tax. And a surprisingly large amount of Utahns citizens report every year (but not me).
Retailers in Phoenix, raised the price of roll-your-own tobacco far in excess of the tax increase. One chain increased the price from $1.99 to $4.99 when the tax increase was 90 cents. retailers will use this as an excuse to increase their profit margins first. Michigan state law states you MUST pay the sales tax on items bought on vacation (out-of-state) as well but, have NO mechanism for rebate of taxes to those from out-of-state. So you get the privilege of paying twice. No surprise, that line on tax forms is wildly underreported.
The whole lot of them, no better than rotten thieves trying to maintain their lifestyles at the expense of everyone else.
You really don’t see a difference in a tax increase on a product that one voluntarily chooses to buy and a tax increase on an individual?
Obama has long supported the S-CHIP legislation, with the cigarette tax increase. And yet I do not recall anyone pointing out his support for S-CHIP as being contradictory to his statement about “no new taxes for those under $250,000″. Maybe because his comments about no new taxes were obviously meant income-based taxes. Which is why he delineated AN INCOME LEVEL.
So, since the Income Tax is an ‘ old ‘ tax; presumably he can raise that as well, without lying ?
I meant to say “And yet I do not recall anyone pointing out his support for S-CHIP prior to now or during the campaign as being contradictory to his statement about “no new taxes for those under $250,000″.”
Alas, taxes are to politicians what cocaine is to a drug addict. At least an addict starts out paying with his or her own money, but like a politician often end up using someone else’s money to feed the addiction.
Geez, I hate politicians.
Huh? No. If income taxes go up for those people he lied, or at least, broke his promise.
If federal excise taxes on something which, for all intents and purposes, is not voluntary goes up, I probably would consider that a broken promise as well. Like the gas tax.
BS.
Making your fortune off the coerced labor of others used to be called slavery, now it’s called governing.
My thoughts also, then I remembered they didn’t bother to read the trillion $ stimulus bill either.
Term limits, along with flat and or fair tax…take the power away from the crooks in congress.
So, is this new tax intended to close a consumer loophole, stop what some see as an evil addiction, punish those who try to save money, or is it an an attempt to fleece the American people once again?
Well, Congress is remiss to close loopholes on themselves, so that can’t be the reason. Online shopping…well, I don’t think that qualifies as an addiction. The idea of punishing cost conscious consumers is contrary to the Obama plan…you know, spending money to help the economy, so that can’t be it. That leaves just one thing…government hands in our pockets once again.
When will enough, be enough? With the current crop of thieves in office, it will never be enough. Their time seems to spent trying to find innovative ways to tax us, or in finding ways for themselves to avoid paying taxes, while at the same time ensuring they stay in power.
How difficult would it be to throw a monkey wrench in to their plans? If this bill is passed, and signed by Obama, we’ll need to stop buying online. My appologies to the online merchants, but you better make plans to find another source of income. Perhaps, a barter system? Some tell me the left has used this system for quite some time, and is regarded as “the underground economy.”
When will America wake up, and take this country back from the power brokers who want to control everything we do, think, make, and earn? The sheeple have been fleeced enough!
Thank God those 95% of people who won’t get a tax increase don’t use the internet.
These twits just don’t get it. Are we “tea partiers” paying attention? Just wait until 2010….. Idjits.
And all those taxes are…guess what!!! Income based taxes. Not excise.
Again, he already supported S-CHIP when he made that promise. So it is entirely illogical to presume he meant anything other than income taxes.
Good time to be starting a black market business. Even taxing everything worked, it would cost them much more money than they are collecting to enforce these new taxes. But as we have learned, raising tax rates and passing new taxes does not result in more tax revenues.
If CA gets too bad, I’ll simply take my client book to Nevada and eliminate/reduce my taxes by $30k or so.
This is all going to implode very soon. Our tax system is only as efficient as people are willing to comply.
Amen. Just about every politician and the enablers who provide the mothers’ milk of politics (money) will fight anything which diminishes their power. It has to be a HUGE unstoppable ground roots effort to put these concepts into effect. Hopefully the teaparties were only the beginning of a down-hill moving snowball!
Which part of “not any of your taxes” do you not understand? It is entirely illogical to assume that a politician will tell the truth. He was on record supporting SCHIP, so it was an outright lie what he said.
It must have been his teleprompter putting words in his mouth and making him appear to lie.
All the Democrats know is “tax and spend”. More proof with this bill. The GOP half of the sponsorship should be voted out of office. The Democrat, of course, will be hailed as a “visionary”.
Besides, Obama already broke his “no new taxes on anyone making under $250,000″ claim when he signed the S-CHIP bs law, raising taxes on cigarettes 59%. This increased the price of a carton of Winstons in south Georgia from $20.05 per carton to $32.09.
On April 20th, 2009 at 12:35 pm, chapoutier said:
So what?
I couldn’t care less if Obama is a liar or broke a campaign pledge. He could be the most honest collectivist on the planet and it wouldn’t matter a damn.
Politicians are not laundry detergent. It is stupid to run around scrutinizing their advertising and campaign promises.
Their actions are what count.
His actions prove he’s an enemy of freedom. These taxes are tyrannical encroachments on liberty.
this comparison between income based taxes and excise taxes is fraudulent. The point is…. perception is everything and Obama and his minions KNEW it. No one is going to tell me that Obama’s promises weren’t based on the obfuscating of the planned user and excise fees. We’re not that stupid. But supporters of Obama were and are. Yes, 52 or 53% of voters are charitably ignorant and at worst stupid given this miscreant’s first 90 some days.
This is a brilliant idea. Kill the Golden goose.
When people stop buying goods across the internet, then it will clog the upstream flow of goods. Yes, every transaction in the supply chain is taxable, but if you cut the chain, then jobs are eventually lost and no one gets the revenue.
Apparently we now work for governments everywhere. We exist to serve their needs and wants. Get used to it.
I would support making political contributions income to those who receive them.
I live in MA close to the NH border under double digits in terms of miles. Guess where I go shopping? I would occasionally buy something in MA since my office is near a mall in the state but now they are proposing a 20% increase in the sales tax (full disclosure that is 1¢ but that is my 1¢ and pennies add up). No thanks, I will buy it online or go to NH. I will make a list, save my money and make a massive drop of cash into NH stores. It takes me 30 minutes to get to a Target in NH and 20 Minutes to get to a Target in MA, where do you think I am shopping? Oh and that doesn’t prohibit a local meals tax either.
bradley
While I agree with this statement, I understand Republican Senator Mike Enzi has taken lead authorship of this bill. He apparently, doesn’t get it either.
You get it! That is the ultimate goal of the left. Government run by the elite, for the elite and served by we, the people ( if you are here active on this site (and not a dilusional troll), you are obviously not elite). We must learn to accept our place. Now, get back to work peasant!
And reinforcing the GOP’s reputation as the stupid party.
Delweare too is a sales tax hacveb for those close enough to live near it to shop.
Perhaps someone more conversant with pre-revolutionry French history can amplify/correct, but somewhere long ago, I remember something about the Bourbon’s scrambling to find new sources of revenue. History repeating itself?
As somebody explained earlier about GA we have a lot of different sales taxes. It isn’t one size fits all.
Add to that the governor recently has given Tax Free Days, normally just before the start of the school year and you have just more of a nightmare for online businesses.
Fair Tax anyone????
Wendy…Sh-h-h-h!…they’ll find someway or another to make this illegal, immoral, or unpatriotic too. And, to drive home the point, the punishment will not fit the “crime.”
On April 20th, 2009 at 1:14 pm, wendy said:
Hi neighbor!
I haven’t purchased gasoline in Massachusetts for over 2 months. I hike in New Hampshire nearly every weekend, so that makes it a bit easier. Fill the tank, pick up some items at the supermarket, cross border.
Depends on what the meaning of “taxes” is. LOL
How soon do you suppose they will make it illegal to sale to out-of-staters, or require “proof of residency” in order to avoid sales tax. It’s not out of the question. Most states, if not all, require a 6 month residency in order to buy a “resident” hunting or fishing license. It wouldn’t be that hard to do.
Of course Obama has raised taxes on everyone already. Nothing new here.
He said if you make less than 50 thou you shouldn’t pay income taxes. Key word “shouldn’t”. Later that went to 40 thou.
Then it was never mentioned again.
Now every thing is off the table.
Almost all of this stuff that is proposed or already enacted was debated in the public before and defeated.
Pelosi just saved every bill and reintroduced them for the emergency spending while waiting for the great Obammy.
The one to watch is going to be the EPA declaring a cap and trade on energy. An end run on public debate will definitely embed a tax hidden that will impact everyone with their power bills that is really going to hurt.
Obama will just smile Chavez style.
Wonder how many Rino’s will come out of the hallowed hall woodwork.
This tax will further hurt the economy. Those in Washington, again, do not consider market behavior.
Many will not continue shopping online since part of the advantage is gone…plus shipping costs for shoppers can be a BIG detriment when all else is equal.
If companies (particulary smaller ones) try to offer “free shipping” to offset the addition of sales tax…that cost will be reflected in higher prices for goods sold.
In addition, the costs in labor to track the tax laws and tax collections for 50 states and each of their counties and municipalities will be substantial. Small online businesses will be hard-pressed to stay afloat.
Have you seen the circulating email showing a stern looking picture of Obama, stating,
“I never approved of attacks on the pirates…I approved “a tax” on them!”
cough.. cough.. oregon, california.
Sometimes its worth the drive from San Francisco. Especially when you have to stop off in Mount Shasta for a weekend away.
I can’t help but wonder if that isn’t a good chunk of what this is all about. Killing off small businesses
They will create a new Government Agency to oversee the collection of this tax funded by – this tax.
How hard can that be? We’ll just need some kind of American Matricula Consular.
And that gives Manuel and Luisa a shovel-ready jobs creation program.
On April 20th, 2009 at 1:29 pm, right_on said:
New Hampshire retailers have been taking a bite from the Massachusetts economy for decades. They won’t stop anytime soon.
The last straw for me was the Mass. Dept of Revenue leaning on a tire store chain to deliver records of Massachusetts residents that made purchases in NH. They have 4 times as many stores in Mass, so they are vulnerable to government shenanigans.
All of this is important, but it’s still a tempest in a teapot compared to what they’re planning on doing to the banks. Remember a couple of months ago when we were talking about the Socialist in Charge nationalizing the banking system??
Lennon gets credit for writing it.
Harrison was the vocalist on the song for the Beatles. Great song!
No, that is not in keeping with the Obama Model of Governance…he will simply name someone as Tax Collection Czar, to impose whatever regulations and penalties they deem necessary in order to facilitate compliance. This person will be above Secretary level, and report directly to Obama. Sound par for the course?
Sorry, this simply isn’t accurate. This is an attempt to get online retailers to collect an already existing sales tax. Few realize it, but just because you live in a different state than *.com, you aren’t relieved of the obligation to pay sales tax on purchases. Currently, online retailers have no legal obligation to collect sales tax on interstate transactions. This is what the proposal seeks to change.
corona
True. The California Tax Franchise Board requires residents who buy online, declare those purchase totals where sales taxes were not paid. It won’t be long before there will be a “trust” issue with the FTB, and they will require some type of new tax form for compliance.
right_on: almost, but to be “par for the course” the person chosen to be the Tax Collection Czar has to have not paid his/her taxes for at least 3 years.
Let’s not let this lie get lost:
” .. not any of your taxes”
On April 20th, 2009 at 1:45 pm, corona said:
Not an existing sales tax, 50 of them. What seems obviously taxable to residents of one state may seem off-limits to another.
Instead of making something fifty times more complicated, why not keep it simple, give consumers a break, and stimulate the economy?
New target…
Note to Janet Reno Napolitano – by new target I of course mean come election day…
JonB
Yeah, that was a given! I don’t think people of conscience would want to be part of this administration. Isn’t that what we heard about qualified people not wanting to be Sec. of Treasury? The association with Obama, and those who are advising him? Birds of a feather, no?
There goes internet sales!
NJ added a tax on labor costs for home improvements last year. Needless to say, I decided to put off all projects which required me to hire someone and will do the labor myself or not do the project at all. These clowns will never learn that increased taxes always will result in the collection of less tax revenue. We are not a bottomless pit of funds for their misguided spending.
As the liberals kept telling the Tea Party attendees, why are you protesting? Didn’t Obama give 95% of the population a tax cut?
They just don’t get it. That pittance isn’t what we’re protesting. It’s the other tax increases, regardless of what form they take, that we’re protesting. The learned Democratic Budget appointees haven’t figured it out that somewhere along the line, all of their spending programs have to be paid for somehow. I don’t think we can depend on Joe Biden, the Obama’s, and the rest of the liberals charitable donations to help much.
Stimulating the economy with their spending? All they’re stimulating is their socialistic programs.
STOP
STIMULATING
SOCIALISM!
What don’t you understand about “your”? As in a tax on YOU. Not a tax on a PRODUCT that you willingly choose to buy.
Obama lies, taxes rise!
Right_On,
Right on..
I live in California, very close to the Oregon border. Gas is 50-60 cents per gallon cheaper, and Oregon has no sales tax. Guess where I shop and buy my gas?
It will be a total nightmare for all concerned if they pass this internet tax.
I loooooooooooathe politicians…
A lawyer and a politician are both drowning… and you can only save one… which do you save?
Or do you just buy popcorn and watch them both drown? Ding, ding, ding! After all, I wouldn’t want to be accused of preferential treatment or bigotry.
*Not intended to insult Chappy in any way, shape or form.
I’m starting to get the feeling that they don’t trust me to pay my taxes!
Tax and Spend is not Change.
Keep twistin’.
“no family making less than $250,000 a year will see any form of tax increase”
I saw a form of a tax increase when a carton of cloves jumped from $72 to $83 in WA. I would suggest taking your Clintonian word games and smoking them, but you’d probably be taxed for that too.
Wonderful. This is the ONLY thing keeping me sane here in CA…the ability to dodge our ridiculous 9% sales tax on high ticket items from Amazon.com
Better buy everything now…
Unbelievable…is there anything they don’t tax?
And it’s only April! Barely 4 months into his presidency and the wack job lefties are already grabbing every single dime they can get away with from “we the people”
When I heard “no tax increases,” I heard the words “read my lips” echo in my brain and consequently heard the crack of my hand as it slapped my forehead. After the initial pain wore off, I translated the words as meaning, “I will not raise any federal tax levels from where they are currently except for people like me who can afford it.” However, he thinks “people like me” can be pinpointed simply by a particular income amount, and he doesn’t give a damn how hard they had to work to earn that money.
His exact words:
If he meant just income tax, he should have said income tax. He was not specific and he left the wording vague enough for people to interpret it in different ways. Because this is state sales tax with the federal government only enabling the states to collect additional money, his hands appear clean. Because he signed CHIP (on Feb. 4) before his Congressional Address (on Feb. 24), he can say he meant, “From this point forward…” Expect Obama and the other professional hucksters in Washington to continue finding loopholes.
California alone has 13 different sales tax rates (from 8.25% to 10.25%) spread across 1700 municipalities and counties.
Why do you purposely ignore that the “no tax increase” promise was directly tied to your income?
How can one logically and honestly think he was talking about any non-income specific tax when he specifically links the promise to one’s income level?
You’re absolutely correct. I checked my Messiah decoder ring and now I see the error of my ways. I will no longer consider the increased money that I send to the federal government to be a tax increase. I will think of it as an investment, an investment that pays dividends of Hope and Change.
I only hope that in the future The One will put onscreen disclaimers like auto dealers do in their advertizing, so that I will never again be bamboozled and easily confused by my own ears, experience and ignorance in the face of the most transparent and transformative politician ever to read a teleprompter.
Common sense goes a long ways too.
Wait till the Bush tax cuts expire next year nearly everyone is in for a larger tax bill.
Well, technically he was correct. Has anyone seen their taxes increased by a single dime?
Watch out, they’ve talked about taxing email too. Requiring a “stamp”. Allegedly in the name of stomping spammers.
Don’t be surprised if that idea gains momentum.
NY is already forcing e-tailers to pay state tax. Newegg told them to stuff it, but Amazon capitulated.
Aren’t most taxes? Take the cigarette tax: this tax will cost KY tobacco growers and KY-based cigarette companies millions in sales and taxes, translating to fewer jobs and less money to the state’s rev dept, translating to more KY farmers, tobacco pickers, et al with children needing S-CHIP and less money in the gov coffers to pay for it. It’s a vicious cycle and an abuse in taxing a legal product.
Iblis,
Actually that is kinda a great example of what I am talking about. If the government raises the price of a postage stamp 2 cents, are people here really going to argue that that is somehow Obama breaking his no tax increase promise?
No. Because that is stupid. Or actually many here may argue that. But you would be stupid to do so.
Think of it as an upward adjustment of an existing tax. That way, it’s not an increase and it’s not a new tax.
See, you dumb common folks keep trying to take things at face value and apply logic to them. Instead, try to find a way where the promise isn’t broken and where Obama has delivered all that he promised. If all that fails, have a nice glass of grape Flavor-Aid. It turns your lips blue!
I would support taxing internet purchases ONLY if it were part of a national consumption tax that everyone pays; and then only if the income tax were repealed.
I’m stupid for being a stickler who expects exact wording by our president on a similar notion that bit G.H.W. Bush in the keister back in ’92. So that’s the thanks I get for constructive criticism. You’re welcome.
Gotta run. I need some smokes to provide some money for the children. Okay, not really. My carton of CHIP fundraising cookies will last me a couple more days before I’m hungry for more. I just wanted to throw in another dash of sarcasm. Later.
You’re a walking, talking embodiment of the saying that common sense ain’t so common. You argue like a lawyer, which is defacto evidence that you’re full of ..it. I’ll bet that 10 years ago you were debating the meaning of the word “is”, and insisting that Bubba was absolutely correct. Assuming, of course, that you were old enough to talk 10 years ago. Certainly you demonstrate the intellect of a 12-year-old today.
This reminds me – the Post Office is going under due to email. How long before some clown in Congress wants to charge you forty-two cents per email?
Enzi- Delahunt syndrome: I got that on the lawn one spring–took the whole summer to get rid of it. Grass clippings had to be bagged–too smelly and vulgar to mulch just like “reaching across the isle” schemes.
CO2 Producer: how far are you from the border? I prefer tax free cigarettes– but I send the little darlins’ in the SCHIP program faith healer videos just to be fair.
Wow, big deal…so Obama cut taxes that yield $8 a paycheck. Let’s not all spend that in one place!
That pathetic “tax cut” will quickly go into the negative once the Internet tax (among other sales taxes, local taxes, fat tax, cig tax, everything else you can tax upon tax) goes into effect.
And knowing this libtard congress who loves taxes, this bill will probably get passed.
txvet, please.
Common sense says that if Obama is talking about no tax increases for people under 250K he is talking about INCOME taxes (and income related taxes). You people are the ones being purposely obtuse and twisting something that should be perfectly obvious (especially considering that ALL of the examples given were INCOME related taxes and considering theses comments were made concurrent with is public support of S-CHIP) into something else to make some stupid political point.