It is another democrat reaching into your back pocket:
A U.S. senator said on Thursday that he would hold up a massive year-end spending bill if it included a ban on Internet-access taxes that he and several colleagues fear would harm state and local finances.
Delaware Sen. Thomas Carper, a Democrat, told reporters he would try to keep the omnibus bill from coming to the Senate floor if the ban was included in its present form, which he said infringed on the rights of state and local governments to raise revenues.
“If we end up with just an awful … provision I would certainly object to bringing the omnibus spending bill to the floor and I suspect others will join me,” Carper told reporters after a news briefing on the issue.
Although Senate rules offer many ways for individual senators to hold up bills they disagree with, it would be hard for Carper to do more than delay the bill for a few days.
Colleagues said they hoped to reach a deal with lawmakers on the other side of the issue before matters reached a head.
The ban is meant to replace a 1998 moratorium that kept state and local government from imposing taxes on the monthly fees Internet providers such as EarthLink Inc (ELNK). charge their customers. The moratorium expired on Nov. 1.
It is going to take more than a smack on the wrist to get Carper’s hand out of your wallet. You know who to write/call/email.
Kimmitt
Isn’t this a States’ Rights issue? Should the Fed really be telling States what taxes they may or may not levy?
(My answers: “No, because I don’t buy all this States’ Rights hoopla, and yes, because that’s how countries work.” But I’m a liberal.)
John Cole
State’s Rights?!? What the hell does this have to do with race? [/sarcasm]
Kimmitt
Good point; since there is no chance to harm minorities or women, the States’ Rights argument set does not apply.
Thanks for clearing me up.
Ross Judson
A $24 Billion pork-packed GOP “energy” bill, and you have the stones to whine this “another democrat reaching into your back pocket” crap?
Where exactly do you think that the $24 billion is going to come from? I’ll tell you where. My back pocket. Not this year, but a few years from now.
You can’t seriously be arguing that the GOP is a party of financial responsibility. The Bush presidency has effectively destroyed the myth that the GOP is a _conservative_ party. It is not.
There is no true conservative party any more. What we have is a gaggle of single-issue hacks.
John Cole
You must be new here. I am aginst the medicare bill, against the energy bill, and I have been decrying the fiscal irresponsibilty of these fiscal conservatives since day one.
Read a little bit before you startgoing ballistic about my stones or the size of them.