Dale Bumpers: “let me address one of the things the Senator from Maine, Mr. Cohen, said about 6,000 different tax jurisdictions in the…”

“let me address one of the things the Senator from Maine, Mr. Cohen, said about 6,000 different tax jurisdictions in the country. Our bill would involve only 45 different tax rates because it provides for a blended rate within each state. As for the exemptions on food, which the State revenue department of Maine told the Senator would be an impossible chore, I want to point out to you that I believe the biggest seller of food by mail order houses in the country is Harry and David. They ship fruit and they ship nonfood articles. What do they say on their order form? ``Please add sales tax. See page 2.'' Page 2, ``Sales tax information. We collect State and local taxes on all nonfood items delivered to the following States.'' Then they have stars and asterisks, and so on. They have about 30 States listed here. Then, down below, it says, ``These States also require sales tax on all candy items.'' Illinois requires 1 percent tax on all food items. Then there is a pound mark. ``These States require sales tax on all items.'' If Harry and David can handle it with one hand behind them, why is that such a big impediment? The truth of the matter is that is just another smokescreen. The truth of the matter is, there is absolutely no trick to it. Otherwise, dozens of companies would not be doing it. If the Boy Scouts of America can collect sales tax on their catalogs, surely L.L. Bean and Lands' End can.”