Dale Bumpers: “I agree mostly with what the Senator from Nebraska said. I prefer a 2-year moratorium. As the Senator from Nebraska…”

“I agree mostly with what the Senator from Nebraska said. I prefer a 2-year moratorium. As the Senator from Nebraska stated, earlier this year, we passed a bill to reform the Internal Revenue Service. That legislation arose from the IRS Commission, which had a mere 15 statutory months to take a top to bottom look at, and make recommendations on, how to restructure the IRS. The entire commission process plus the legislating process resulted in a bill the President signed in just a shade over two years. The point I am trying to make is this: Fair taxation of the Internet is not more complicated than restructuring the IRS. The bill to which the two amendments presently pending are offered, is a bill that provides a 2-year moratorium. Two years is enough. To allow any more time would do nothing but prove that the U.S. Senate is knuckling under to the Internet industry. I see my good friend from Florida on the floor. He and I were both Governors. The Governors signed off on 2 years and now here is a letter saying they hope we will compromise on 3 years. "Do not adopt," they say, "the 4 year moratorium. Accept the compromise of 3 years." I can tell you, Senator, if I were still Governor of my State, I would be squealing like a pig under a gate. Here a significant percentage of the State's entire tax base is being eroded, literally destroyed, by remote sellers, and the Internet industry and the Governors say let's compromise at 3 years.”