[John Filson]

No!

[konaice]

Two years ago, Senators Michael Enzi (R-Wyo.) and Brian Dorgan (D-N.D.) introduced a bill to require out-of-state retailers, including Internet businesses, to charge and collect sales taxes on transactions

Article 1, Section 9: ... No tax or duty shall be laid on Articles Exported from any state.

Section 10: No state shall without concent of congress lay any iposts od duties on imports or exports..

Not that anything in the constitution is safe to rely on these days

[NonValueAdded]

I took a look and all I could find was S.1736 for the 108th Congress "A bill to promote simplification and fairness in the administration and collection of sales and use taxes" See S.1736. Its status is "10/15/2003 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance." I believe it died with the 108th Congress and would have needed to be re-introduced in the 109th, would it not?

[jayhorn]

Politicians look at all this e-commerce going on "untaxed" (ignoring the taxes the business pays, the taxes the ISP pays, sales tax on your computer, line fees if you're dialing up ...) and they see all that tax revenue that's being lost.

It's just a matter of time before they figure out how to tax internet transactions. So predictable ....

[Lancey Howard]

Two years ago, Senators Michael Enzi (R-Wyo.) and Brian Dorgan (D-N.D.) introduced a bill to require out-of-state retailers, including Internet businesses, to charge and collect sales taxes on transactions

Senator Brian Dorgan.

[TheOtherOne]

Thieving bastards.

[coconutt2000]

Seems to me that States are getting tired of competing to attract such businesses to operate in their own borders, and are resorting to a classic "old boys" solution that will probably be less than effective and will trample the Constitution in the process - in spirit or in fact, or both.

[ncountylee]

Sending letters to my Senators, Governor and Representative!

[CyberAnt]

Well .. except for necessities .. we could stage a protest - and not buy anything over the internet - when their taxes don't materialize - they might change their minds .. LOL!

[nopardons]

Hell, damn, and blast!

[EGPWS]

a potential $20 billion-a-year bonanza for cash-strapped states.

Ah yes, we must promote this bonanza to help maintain a government "for the people", "by the people".

[snarks_when_bored]

Politicians have a better nose for taxes than sharks have for blood in the water.

[2nd_Amendment_Defender]

Wouldn't you know it? The government has to stick their hands in your pocket on everything, EVERYTHING!!! Pretty soon Americans are going to be paying as much in taxes as the Britains and Canadians do.

You can't even own land anymore in most states. If you pay property taxes, you are renting your land from the government.

(Rant switch now turned off)

[SpaceBar]

Every story I've read in the last few years regarding possible internet taxation always has the same implied message that says "Relax people, it's just an idea. It won't be implimented...". Funny how we are lied to right up to the fall of the ax blade.

[sergeantdave]

It's not fair that people who buy goods on the net don't pay taxes.

People should pay taxes on internet purchases, homes, cars, cats, dogs, lawns, the dirt you walk on and the air you breathe.

People need to pay taxes so the fellow on state welfare can drink beer on your dollar.

And the bureaucrat who preys on you and harasses you needs tax dollars, too, so he can retire on disability at age 35 and collect $100,000 annually on your tax dollar.

Paying taxes on everything is one of the government's sacraments and everyone needs to partake.

Taxes are good for you as it removes dollars from your pocket that you might spend on an ice cream cones for your kids. You don't want your kids fat, do you? See? Taxes are healthy for your family's health.

So, tax, tax, tax, tax. It's healthy, it supports the common good and you can walk down the street and point to the welfare drunk draped over the porch railing and proudly say, "I contributed to the common good and bought that fellow a beer."

[SpinyNorman]

"Meeting in Chicago last week, the Streamlined Sales Tax Project (SSTP) took its most significant step to date to implement the collection of sales taxes on online purchases, a potential $20 billion-a-year bonanza for cash-strapped states."

And a boat anchor on the economy!

If you want more of something, subsidize (i.e. don't tax) it, and if you want less, tax it.

The states need to get a handle on costs and outrageous agreements with state worker's unions.

[NonValueAdded]

Hey, it's just a "fair tax." Aren't many in favor of a national sales tax? What is the difference if the states go after their piece first? What, don't like the idea that every bit of commerce in which you engage sends a little bit to a gubermental entity? Better get used to it if the "fair tax" people have their way.

[savedbygrace]

A significant factor in the internet sales boom is the fact that there has been no tax to pay for many of the purchases. If that goes away, purchases will decrease dramatically. The $20B figure is based on static analysis, but dynamic analysis is more appropriate.

Internet purchases might also be reducing the need for gasoline, because less people are running all over the place trying to find the items they want to buy locally.

[Churchillspirit]

Commenting as a retailer with an on-line business.........the paper work!!.....the paperwork!!