Political Quotes

“Why are we barring our States from doing their good due diligence, providing resources--needed resources--for schools and infrastructure and health care? So I am well aware of the arguments on the other side, but listen to our arguments. We are not stopping the taxation issue; we are putting a moratorium for 4 years, so that we can reassess it. I ask my colleagues to consider that as they consider this legislation. I rise in opposition to this legislation. Madam Speaker, the bill would make permanent the Internet Tax Freedom Act, which imposes a moratorium on taxing Internet services, but, as written, would delete the existing grandfather clause that has been in place since the original passage of the bill in 1998 that has allowed Texas at the state and local level to impose tax on Internet access services. At the markup in the Judiciary Committee, Ranking Member Conyers and I offered an amendment to extend the moratorium and the grandfather protections for four years. Unfortunately it failed on a primarily party line vote in the Committee. Now, the authors of this bill would deem to tell Texas what it can do or not do regarding its tax policy. At the heart of the notion of federalism is the right of states to legislate matters within their own jurisdiction. The lines of authority between states and the federal government are, to a significant extent, defined by the United States Constitution and relevant case law.…”