DCPolitics

US Senate Passes Internet Sales Tax

With fiscally liberal “Republicans” like U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham (RINO-S.C.) leading the way, the U.S. Senate overwhelmingly approved a massive new sales tax on internet purchases this week. The legislation – oxymoronically dubbed the “Marketplace Fairness Act” – passed on a 69-27 vote. Joining Graham in supporting the new tax…

With fiscally liberal “Republicans” like U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham (RINO-S.C.) leading the way, the U.S. Senate overwhelmingly approved a massive new sales tax on internet purchases this week.

The legislation – oxymoronically dubbed the “Marketplace Fairness Act” – passed on a 69-27 vote.

Joining Graham in supporting the new tax – which would suck an estimated $23 billion out of the economy each year – were numerous fellow “Republicans in Name Only” including Lamar Alexander, Saxby Chambliss and John McCain.

Opposing it? Free market fiscal conservatives like U.S. Senators Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Jeff Flake (R-Arizona) and Rand Paul (R-Kentucky). Also South Carolina’s newly elected Tim Scott voted against the tax hike.

In addition to depriving the struggling American economy of vital oxygen, this law imposes onerous new reporting requirements on companies that do more than $1 million worth of business a year. In fact it forces them to follow a labyrinthine maze of state and local sales taxes – charging residents different costs based on their geographic location.

It also forces businesses in states that currently do not collect a sales tax to start assessing one.

“Compliance would be extraordinarily onerous and expensive, with upwards of 9,600 taxing jurisdictions in the country among the 45 states with sales taxes,” a recent opinion piece in U.S. News and World Report noted. “Under the legislation, states would have to provide software with the appropriate tax rates, but that still leaves the burden on retailers of incorporating the information and actually collecting the tax, a burden that will hit smaller retailers disproportionately hard.”

The vote comes as a new national poll from Quinnipiac University found 56 percent of Americans opposed to internet taxation (compared to 37 percent who support it).

So yeah … way to do the “people’s business.” And way to stimulate that “recovery.”

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42 comments

? May 7, 2013 at 10:07 am

The Black market is the US is growing, courtesy of our gov’t:

“Some of us at sherry before a Fiscal Policy dinner in the Harvard Faculty Club were beefing about certain tax loopholes in the IRS code. Gotttfried [Haberler] whispered quietly, “Capitalism breathes through those loopholes.” The next day I told him how much I had liked his aphorism. Always the straight-arrow scholar, he said, “Yes, but the words are those of Ludwig von Mises not Gottfried Haberler.”-Paul Samuelson

Reply
? May 7, 2013 at 10:07 am

The Black market is the US is growing, courtesy of our gov’t:

“Some of us at sherry before a Fiscal Policy dinner in the Harvard Faculty Club were beefing about certain tax loopholes in the IRS code. Gotttfried [Haberler] whispered quietly, “Capitalism breathes through those loopholes.” The next day I told him how much I had liked his aphorism. Always the straight-arrow scholar, he said, “Yes, but the words are those of Ludwig von Mises not Gottfried Haberler.”-Paul Samuelson

Reply
CNSYD May 7, 2013 at 10:10 am

Cruz, Paul, Scott, et al know how to do math. The bill was going to pass whether they voted yea or nay. So they voted nay so they could brag about how they tried to stop it.

Reply
CNSYD May 7, 2013 at 10:10 am

Cruz, Paul, Scott, et al know how to do math. The bill was going to pass whether they voted yea or nay. So they voted nay so they could brag about how they tried to stop it.

Reply
Smirks May 7, 2013 at 10:21 am

Sales tax is still a regressive tax and ultimately isn’t good for that very reason. That being said, technically an online-based business is theoretically “present” in every state, even if it isn’t physically there. And honestly, anyone who shops online will tell you that a lack of sales tax is not the reason why shopping online saves so much money. For example, brick-and-mortar stores have far more expenses to worry about and pass that price onto the consumer, whereas online-only retail stores can offer a lot from one or a few centralized locations and lower costs. Sales tax won’t hurt them, at all.

Sales tax should be collected if it is going to be charged, we just shouldn’t rely very heavily on sales tax whatsoever.

Reply
9" May 8, 2013 at 11:32 pm

‘You’re talking a lot,but you’re not saying anything’

David Byrne

Reply
Smirks May 7, 2013 at 10:21 am

Sales tax is still a regressive tax and ultimately isn’t good for that very reason. That being said, technically an online-based business is theoretically “present” in every state, even if it isn’t physically there. And honestly, anyone who shops online will tell you that a lack of sales tax is not the reason why shopping online saves so much money. For example, brick-and-mortar stores have far more expenses to worry about and pass that price onto the consumer, whereas online-only retail stores can offer a lot from one or a few centralized locations and lower costs. Sales tax won’t hurt them, at all.

Sales tax should be collected if it is going to be charged, we just shouldn’t rely very heavily on sales tax whatsoever.

Reply
9" May 8, 2013 at 11:32 pm

‘You’re talking a lot,but you’re not saying anything’

David Byrne

Reply
idiotwind May 7, 2013 at 10:29 am

people who can run an online national retailer can’t figure out how to collect sales tax?

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idiotwind May 7, 2013 at 10:29 am

people who can run an online national retailer can’t figure out how to collect sales tax?

Reply
CorruptionInColumbia May 7, 2013 at 10:54 am

Waddya expect from Graham, or McCain? These two treasonous pieces of shit need to go.

Reply
2big2fall May 7, 2013 at 11:55 am

“Then it’s agreed…You pick at the boil on my neck and I’ll give you a hand job.”

Reply
CNSYD May 7, 2013 at 2:23 pm

Exactly what treasonous acts did McCain commit while a POW?

Reply
CorruptionInColumbia May 7, 2013 at 2:57 pm

That was then, this is now. He, like Graham, has been steadily trying to sell American citizens and taxpayers down the road in favor of invading illegals and foreign governments, their leaders, and their citizens.

Reply
CNSYD May 7, 2013 at 3:48 pm

Missed your list. BTW, where did you serve?

Reply
Frank Pytel May 8, 2013 at 5:51 am

Don’t have to serve to be a patriot. God knows every taxpayer is doing his duty in this cunt-ry today. Military has to get money from somewhere to spend on McPain and Grahmnesty’s hissy fits.

I won’t begrudge the military the dollars. But I will bitch and piss until I’m blue in the face.

Have a Great Day!! :) There won’t be many left with the Demlicans and Republicrats in charge.

Frank Pytel

CNSYD May 8, 2013 at 10:20 am

So you are just like Frank Costello?

CorruptionInColumbia May 7, 2013 at 10:54 am

Waddya expect from Graham, or McCain? These two treasonous pieces of shit need to go.

Reply
2big2fall May 7, 2013 at 11:55 am

“Then it’s agreed…You pick at the boil on my neck and I’ll give you a hand job.”

Reply
CNSYD May 7, 2013 at 2:23 pm

Exactly what treasonous acts did McCain commit while a POW?

Reply
CorruptionInColumbia May 7, 2013 at 2:57 pm

That was then, this is now. He, like Graham, has been steadily trying to sell American citizens and taxpayers down the road in favor of invading illegals and foreign governments, their leaders, and their citizens.

Reply
CNSYD May 7, 2013 at 3:48 pm

Missed your list. BTW, where did you serve?

Reply
Frank Pytel May 8, 2013 at 5:51 am

Don’t have to serve to be a patriot. God knows every taxpayer is doing his duty in this cunt-ry today. Military has to get money from somewhere to spend on McPain and Grahmnesty’s hissy fits.

I won’t begrudge the military the dollars. But I will bitch and piss until I’m blue in the face.

Have a Great Day!! :) There won’t be many left with the Demlicans and Republicrats in charge.

Frank Pytel

CNSYD May 8, 2013 at 10:20 am

So you are just like Frank Costello?

Say What? May 7, 2013 at 11:12 am

As has been said before, if you are a paying your SC taxes correctly, then you have to report and pay “use tax” for all of those items purchased out of state whether bought via internet or mail order. If you oppose this then I assume you are avoiding taxes illegally in SC for which there is no statue of limitations.

Also, this is only fair since all bricks and mortar stores have to collect and remit sales taxes.

For those of you who oppose as it is a new tax need to read your instructions for completeing your SC income tax return. For those of you who think this is a regressive tax, it is; however, everyone pays it unlike income taxes. We need more sales taxes and less income taxes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Lastly, thanks Lindsey for doing the right thing.

Reply
Say What? May 7, 2013 at 11:12 am

As has been said before, if you are a paying your SC taxes correctly, then you have to report and pay “use tax” for all of those items purchased out of state whether bought via internet or mail order. If you oppose this then I assume you are avoiding taxes illegally in SC for which there is no statue of limitations.

Also, this is only fair since all bricks and mortar stores have to collect and remit sales taxes.

For those of you who oppose as it is a new tax need to read your instructions for completeing your SC income tax return. For those of you who think this is a regressive tax, it is; however, everyone pays it unlike income taxes. We need more sales taxes and less income taxes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Lastly, thanks Lindsey for doing the right thing.

Reply
Makeupyourmind May 7, 2013 at 12:56 pm

Just a few years ago you were railing against the legislature giving away money with Amazon because it wasn’t going to require sales tax. Now you’re mad because the Feds are going to make them collect sales tax. You just like being a contrarian.

Reply
Makeupyourmind May 7, 2013 at 12:56 pm

Just a few years ago you were railing against the legislature giving away money with Amazon because it wasn’t going to require sales tax. Now you’re mad because the Feds are going to make them collect sales tax. You just like being a contrarian.

Reply
Creeper May 7, 2013 at 3:17 pm

Does this mean I have to pay taxes to jerk it to internet porn now? They are actually going to tax my masturbation? Bastards.

Reply
9" May 7, 2013 at 6:15 pm

send a pic,and maybe meet at peachtree rock.don’t waste a hot load,when it can be swallowed

Reply
Creeper May 7, 2013 at 3:17 pm

Does this mean I have to pay taxes to jerk it to internet porn now? They are actually going to tax my masturbation? Bastards.

Reply
9" May 7, 2013 at 6:15 pm

send a pic,and maybe meet at peachtree rock.don’t waste a hot load,when it can be swallowed

Reply
fred May 7, 2013 at 4:53 pm

Are we surprised that SC ‘s inastute and most junior senator, aka duhmint’s lapdawg voted against internet taxation.
Hell Scott doesn’t have brain or the intelligence to be a senator, should have kept pedaling insurance.

Reply
fred May 7, 2013 at 4:53 pm

Are we surprised that SC ‘s inastute and most junior senator, aka duhmint’s lapdawg voted against internet taxation.
Hell Scott doesn’t have brain or the intelligence to be a senator, should have kept pedaling insurance.

Reply
9" May 7, 2013 at 6:06 pm

It is fair.If you’re doing over a million a year,what do you expect? Go after the fucking churches instead. What isn’t fair to small businesses are the ridiculous new USPS charges for shipping internationally…BTW,are Graham and McCain into daddy/son role-playing?

I’d like to see the movie,but would prefer,John and Andre,instead

Reply
9" May 7, 2013 at 6:06 pm

It is fair.If you’re doing over a million a year,what do you expect? Go after the fucking churches instead. What isn’t fair to small businesses are the ridiculous new USPS charges for shipping internationally…BTW,are Graham and McCain into daddy/son role-playing?

I’d like to see the movie,but would prefer,John and Andre,instead

Reply
idiotwind May 8, 2013 at 11:30 am

Say What? is exactly right. this is not a new tax. you are supposed to pay it on your state return. those who voted against it are in the pay of internet retailers.

Reply
idiotwind May 8, 2013 at 11:30 am

Say What? is exactly right. this is not a new tax. you are supposed to pay it on your state return. those who voted against it are in the pay of internet retailers.

Reply
TontoBubbaGoldstein May 8, 2013 at 2:41 pm

Also South Carolina’s newly elected Tim Scott voted against the tax hike.

“Also South Carolina’s newly selected Tim Scott voted against the tax hike.”

Fixed it fer ya!

Reply
TontoBubbaGoldstein May 8, 2013 at 2:41 pm

Also South Carolina’s newly elected Tim Scott voted against the tax hike.

“Also South Carolina’s newly selected Tim Scott voted against the tax hike.”

Fixed it fer ya!

Reply
tomstickler May 8, 2013 at 7:56 pm

How about a citation — chapter and verse — where the Marketplace Fairness Act will force those 5 states that do not have sales tax to start assessing one?

Reply
tomstickler May 8, 2013 at 7:56 pm

How about a citation — chapter and verse — where the Marketplace Fairness Act will force those 5 states that do not have sales tax to start assessing one?

Reply

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