Political Quotes

“what some State and local officials now seek to do is to change the definition of ``Internet access,'' which, under current law, cannot be taxed. In doing so, what it would do is give States and localities explicit permission to tax what Internet users do once they get on line. That would mean you could have games, music, magazines, newspapers, information services, financial services, research services, or other products of services, in effect, facing a barrage of new taxes. The phrase ``you've got mail'' would be replaced with ``you owe taxes.'' That is what this proposal would mean to 142 million Americans with household Internet access. Under this proposal, the consumer could be taxed every time they send an e-mail, every time they read their local newspaper online or check the score of a football game. Those who are making this proposal are not going to come out publicly and talk about their ideas for taxing e-mail. There isn't a headline in the language that I have put into the Congressional Record today that says: Watch out, our plan is going to tax e-mail. But there is no question that a clear reading of this legislative language will mean just that. Consumers could be taxed every time they check a bank statement online. They could be taxed for paying their bills online. They could be taxed each time they check the sports scores online or listen to the weather on streaming radio.…”