Dianne Feinstein: “I very much hope we do not pass the underlying bill today. I believe it is premature. In my 10 years in the Senate, I…”

“I very much hope we do not pass the underlying bill today. I believe it is premature. In my 10 years in the Senate, I have never heard from more California cities, specifically 104 of them, indicating their concerns about what the underlying bill would do to the budgets of their cities. Here in my hand are some of the letters. This issue has energized cities in my State like no other. City mayors are incensed that we would pass a law without knowing with certainty how it would impact local revenues. I have received letters from the League of California Cities, which represents all of California's 478 cities, from county administrators, police officer associations, firefighter associations, all of whom are concerned about this bill--and I cannot answer their questions about it. But, they understand the larger issue. They are telling us the bill contains language that threatens their ability to collect existing taxes on certain telecommunications services. And, again, I cannot answer these questions, and these questions cannot be answered on the floor of the Senate today. They are too complex. This is precisely why the Carper-Alexander amendment is the most appropriate approach: extend the moratorium for another 2 years and do a study.”