Ernest Istook: “I have had a personal computer on my desktop for over 15 years, using it daily, watching it become an important part of…”

“I have had a personal computer on my desktop for over 15 years, using it daily, watching it become an important part of work, of entertainment, of information gathering, of finding out the news, of doing research. I use it constantly. And I hear people say, well, do not tax the Internet. Okay, that is fine. I do not want to tax the Internet. But I do not hear those same people saying do not tax telecommunications, do not tax department stores, do not tax clothing stores. Where is the principle of fairness and consistency? If we tell businesses that by hooking up with the Internet they gain exemption from taxes, competitive pressure means all businesses will work through the Internet to exempt themselves from taxes. But we are not talking about Federal taxes that we are deciding. We are taking away the ability of our States and our communities to have the tax base that pays for schools, that pays for roads, that pays for police, that pays for fire protection. Do not tell me to not tax the Internet unless we want to also say we will not tax telecommunications. Get rid of all of them.”