Herb Kohl: “today Senator Gregg and I are introducing legislation, the New Economy Tax Simplification Act, to ask government to step…”

“today Senator Gregg and I are introducing legislation, the New Economy Tax Simplification Act, to ask government to step out of the way of the growing Internet economy and take a middle ground approach to taxation of Internet commerce. Our legislation does not stop any one State from forcing Internet companies within its borders to collect the sales taxes collected by any other business within its borders. But it does stop every one of the over 7000 local taxing jurisdictions from imposing every one of their unique rules, regulations, and rates on every business that sells over the Internet or through the mail. We are not here today to ask for special treatment for companies that sell on the Internet. We simply want to make sure that businesses that are tackling the market with 21st century technology are not bled to death by the Byzantine local tax system. All companies--regardless of whether they now sell over the Internet or not--benefit from the economic boom and consumer convenience provided by computer commerce. If you don't sell over the Internet now; you probably buy there. If you don't work for a company whose economic fortune is tied to Internet sales or information, your spouse, child, or neighbor probably does.”