From the office of Del. Rick Impallaria:
The tax-and-spenders are still at it. The National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) (which I do not attend) this year passed a unanimous resolution calling on state legislatures to support a bill in Congress (H.R.5660) which would enable states to collect sales taxes on remote purchases. It is called the “Main Street Fairness Act,” and is the brainchild of Congressman Bill Delahunt of Taxachusetts.
Presently, according to the U.S. Supreme Court, states do not have the right to collect sales tax from companies which do not have a physical presence in the state. This bill would give states the right to require sales taxes to be collected.
This effort is billed by its backers as a fairness issue, saying, in effect, “Let’s be fair to in-state companies. It’s unfair that out-of-state companies don’t have to charge sales tax. Our businesses can’t compete.” What they’re really after is, of course, revenue. A proponent of this legislation who, I am sorry to say, is a Republican, Christopher Rants, Iowa Congressman, says, “The support of state legislators, Republicans and Democrats, from across the country at NDSL’s Annual legislative Summit in Louisville, show that this issue is not about taxes or partisan politics, but fairness, fairness for Main Street and for state taxpayers” (from the NCSL News press release of July 29, 2010).
Baloney. It’s all about collecting more taxes so states will not have to do the hard work of trimming their budgets.
The NCSL resolution calls on members of Congress to support this bill. Are you Taxes Enough Already? Then call on your members of Congress to fail this tax increase bill.
The Maryland legislator who sent me (and I’m sure it was sent to all members of the General Assembly) said that this was “most informative” and “of particular interest” to her, and she was “certain that you will find it of interest.” I do, and I think it is something else we have to watch out for.
If you would like a copy of the NCSL press release and the Resolution, I have scanned the documents into a jpg file (5 pages). Email me at rick.impallaria@house.state.md.us, and I will forward it to you. You can also visit the NCSL website: www.ncsl.org
Rick Impallaria
Delegate, District 7
Kim McCarthy says
Did Rick title his letter “Democrat Tax Plan for 2011,” or was that from The Dagger? I could not find reference to a Democratic Party Tax Plan in his letter. I can’t believe I am defending Rick, but, he rightly points out that this is a plan from the NCSL which is bipartisan. I think The Dagger needs to change the tag on this letter. And, don’t even get me started about referring to The Democratic Party the correct way – it is “Democratic,” and we are the Democrats with an “s.” Please get it right, even if while editorializing you are trying to be disparaging.
Brian Goodman says
Kim,
The title of Del. Impallaria’s email is:
“Annapolis Update – Interim 2010 – September 7, 2010
Democrat Tax Plan for 2011?”
Bull Moose says
Christopher Rants is a state representative from Iowa, not a congressman as Del. Impallaria states.
Unless we should start referring to Rick as “Congressman Impallaria.” (I think I just threw up in my mouth a little.)