BULLY!!!
Posted on 06/30/2009 1:25:42 PM PDT by rabscuttle385
Rep. Ron Paul (R-Lake Jackson) is co-sponsoring the Telephone Excise Tax Repeal Act of 2009, a bill that would do away with a tax that was originally enacted to help fund the Spanish-American War of 1898.
The 110-year-old tax was initially enacted as a “temporary” tax to provide military funding during a time when a telephone was considered a luxury item.
Paul said the legislation was outdated and repealing the tax would help people keep more money in their pockets at a time when they sorely need the extra cash.
“In these tough economic times, every little bit of tax relief helps. I am proud to fight in Washington for every tax cut possible for my constituents, and I am hopeful that the Telephone Excise Tax Repeal Act will gain support and pass quickly,” Paul said.
Paul added that for more than 40 years, the federal excise tax has been withering away. Most recently, after losing several court cases, the Internal Revenue Service stopped collecting the tax on long distance and most bundled telephone services in 2006.
As a result, the tax now disproportionately burdens those who depend greatly on local telephone service, primarily people who live in rural and low-income communities and those who subscribe to lifeline telephone services.
Simonton-area resident Flo Richards has one of the lifeline services. She said she never really paid attention to the tax but would be glad to see it removed.
“In these times, very little bit helps,” she said.
Richards, 77, laughed when she learned the tax was originally intended to fund the Spanish-American War.
“That was so long ago, my great-grandfather fought in that war. That just shows you can’t trust the government when they tell you a tax is temporary,” she said. “How can something be ‘temporary’ for over 100 years?”
Paul’s congressional district covers portions of Fort Bend County, including much of Cinco Ranch.
ping!
They tried this with republican congress and it never happened it won’t with the batch.
Um, wasn’t this already repealed? I know the tax on my phone bill went down a few years ago, and I seem to recall it was because that tax was repealed.
Sorry, just googled and found this particular tax has NOT already been repealed it was a different tax and local to my state.
BULLY!!!
My mother used to rail on them when the subject of the Pennsylvania Turnpike comes up. It was only going to be a toll road for a little while until it’s paid for. / hurl
What’s wRONg PAUL’s view on shrimp welfare?
Better to be a Shrimper than a TARPer.
I’m with you. I remember the last time they tried to repeal this tax. But like most taxes, once they’re in you can’t get rid of them. Good luck to Ron Paul...he’s going to need it. One of the few things that I can side with Paul on.
Too late. The Paul bashing has begun. /sigh
It was originally cast as a “soak the rich” tax. If you had a luxury item like a phone, you must be rich.
Compared to people 100 years ago, we are all rich.
The dirty secret with toll roads (and it was here in Texas too) is that they keep refinancing so they will never have to pay it off.
One judge over the system said that HE wasn’t the one who made the promise that it would eventually go toll-free.
Lies. Damnable lies.
I tend to agree with him on most economic and financial issues.
It's when he starts talking about foreign policy that he scares me.
Waterboarding Gore is a possible result!
I am sure cut and run will put enough earmarks in with the repeal that even if passed it will have no net effect.
I’m to the point where I have little to no interest in engaging the paleo haters.
This is one (1) thing I can agree with Rep. Paul on.
A lot of people don’t realize that this excise tax can be decuted from your income tax.
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