Democrats Blocking Permanent Ban On Internet-Access Tax
CAPTAIN ED
By Ed Morrissey on National Politics
The Democratic leadership in Congress has started to work overtime in blocking a Republican attempt to permanently ban taxes on Internet access. According to Congressional Quarterly, they will instead offer a four-year extension in its place, and refusing to consider a more permanent solution:
"House leaders are using a looming deadline and procedural heavy-handedness to thwart the will of nearly 240 House members who support a permanent ban on Internet-access taxes, some supporters of the ban say.
Democratic leaders have scheduled a vote Tuesday on a bill (HR 3678) that would extend for four years the existing ban on taxing Internet access, which is scheduled to expire Nov. 1.
Although supporters of making the tax ban permanent almost certainly would have enough votes to amend the bill more to their liking, it is scheduled for consideration under suspension of the rules, a procedure that bars amendments and is usually reserved for less controversial legislation.
"Basically, what the Democratic leadership has said is, 'Here's four years, take it or leave it,' " said Republican Robert W. Goodlatte of Virginia, cosponsor of a bill that would permanently ban Internet-access taxes. "Congress will probably take it, but I don't know. We'll have to wait and see what the vote is."
The four-year approach will probably pass. No one will want to vote against it and risk failure of the broader ban. A failure to pass either bill will almost certainly result in an imposition of state taxes on Internet access, driving up costs for both businesses and individuals and disincentivizing commerce.
The issue continues in the Senate, however. Trent Lott and Ted Stevens plan on holding a press conference with John Sununu, whose S.2128 bill proposes the permanent ban. If the Senate passes 2128, then the conference committee may have the opportunity to favor the Senate version rather than the House edition. If Harry Reid pushes a four-year moratorium instead, he may not get enough votes for the weaker version. Silicon Valley has pushed hard for the permanent ban, and although Barbara Boxer would likely follow Reid's lead, Dianne Feinstein may decide to listen to her constituency rather than lose them to the GOP.
A permanent ban makes more sense. There is no better model of interstate commerce on an individual level than the Internet. The federal government has a Constitutional interest in controlling the taxation on access to the Internet, and that should be addressed in a more stable manner than punting the ball every four years. With a majority of House members favoring a permanent solution, House leadership should follow both the will of its members and the Constitution in settling the matter permanently. |
