Online Sales Tax to be added to defense authorization bill

[AnCap Dave]

Source

This may be the last Christmas of online shopping without paying sales tax.

A proposed online sales tax has been offered as an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act, much to the ire of opponents.

The Computer and Communications Industry Association, a group that opposes this move, says that an online sales tax will burden small businesses, "some of the most promising candidates for future economic growth."

"This proposal, and other online sales tax collection proposals like it, would allow states to penalize the innovative e-commerce business model by targeting small online businesses as convenient sources (and collectors) of revenue," said CCIA President and CEO Ed Black.

The Marketplace Fairness Act, and its House counterpart the Marketplace Equity Act, seek to clarify, and arguably overturn, a 1992 Supreme Court ruling that requires retailers to have a physical presence in a state in order to collect sales tax on goods.

"Severing the relationship between taxation and physical presence would be a fundamental transformation in how we consider taxes," Black continued. "Such a significant step deserves more extensive consideration than attachment to the unrelated Defense Authorization bill."

Still, a recent poll indicates that the majority of Americans support the idea, describing an online sales tax as "common sense". They also feel that a tax for online purchases would encourage people to buy local and keep tax dollars in their community.

"Local retailers invest in their communities and play a significant role in the overall quality of life in the places we call home," said Betsy Laird, senior vice president of global public policy for the  International Council of Shopping Centers.

Collecting the tax across state lines however poses as a challenge for small businesses that sell their goods in multiple states.

"It is not the job of small businesses to collect taxes to provide tax revenue relief for state and local governments outside their jurisdiction," Black said, suggesting that an online tax would protect existing businesses at the expense of consumers and growth.

Some Republicans are on board, with Wyoming Sen. Mike Enzi as "the most overlooked tax loophole."

"We are optimistic that once the Marketplace Fairness Act is brought for a vote, it will have enough support to pass," said Illinois Democratic Sen. Richard Durbin's spokeswoman, Christina Mulka.

Both Sens. Durbin and Enzi have offered the bill as an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act.

"Sen. Durbin is focused on working with his colleagues to try to get a vote on the bill before the end of this year, whether as a stand-alone bill or part of a larger piece of legislation," Mulka said. "They are keeping all options on the table at this point."

What does this have to do with defense again? Oh wait, it doesn't. Just another way for them to rob us.

[Goaticus]

I don't know what's sadder, that this will pass or that it will get far more opposition than indefinite detention.

[AnCap Dave]

I don't know what's sadder, that this will pass or that it will get far more opposition than indefinite detention.

It did pass, completely unopposed.

Source

The US Senate unanimously passed the Pentagon's 2013 budget, despite a political impasse over debt reduction that could see huge cuts to military spending next year.

After months of negotiations, lawmakers voted 98-0 to approve the $631 billion National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2013, which began on October 1.

The sweeping measure, passed after five days of debate and hundreds of amendments, would tighten sanctions on Iran, restrict the president's authorization in handling terrorism suspects, and prohibit the military detention of US nationals.

The bill must be reconciled with a version passed earlier this year in the House of Representatives before going to President Barack Obama's desk for his signature, though the White House has threatened a veto.

The two versions have major differences, but both Senate Armed Services Committee chairman Carl Levin and ranking Republican John McCain expressed confidence in reaching consensus in conference.

The administration "strongly objects" to sections of the bill that would, among other things, impose restrictions on the use of funds to transfer detainees held at the US Naval base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba to foreign countries; and to the proposed trimming of civilian and contract workers.

"If the bill is presented to the president for approval in its current form, the president's senior advisers would recommend that the president veto the bill," the Office of Management and Budget said last week.

Obama had sought $614 billion, of which $89 billion would go to the war in Afghanistan.

But the Senate hiked the total figure by $17 billion, even as lawmakers and the president grapple with how to avoid hundreds of billions of dollars in automatic spending cuts that kick in next month if no deficit reduction deal is reached.

Tuesday's legislation saw more than 140 amendments added to the bill, including a ban on the US government detaining American citizens or US permanent residents without charge, and tough new economic sanctions on Iran aimed at stalling the Islamic republic's nuclear program.

It also includes an amendment requiring the administration to report to Congress on the US military options available for degrading Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's use of air power against his own people, although it does not expressly authorize the use of US military force and is not to be construed as a declaration of war against Syria.

The bill also provides a 1.7-percent pay raise for military personnel, strengthens the Pentagon's anti-sexual assault programs, and improves the care and management of wounded warriors, McCain said.

The bill also approves funding for the deployment of additional US forces to protect American embassies and diplomatic missions abroad -- a reaction to the September 11 attack on the consulate in Benghazi, Libya.

Four Americans including ambassador Christopher Stevens were killed in the attack by Islamist militants, and several investigations are under way to determine possible security lapses that contributed to the incident.

Tuesday's vote marked a rare moment of cooperation between the two parties. Democrats and Republicans are engaged in fierce negotiations on deficit reduction for the next 10 years; they have until the end of the month to forge a compromise, but as of Tuesday, the discussions seemed stalled.

"Our efforts demonstrate that when it comes to addressing the issues important to the men and women in uniform, the Senate can work together in a bipartisan manner," McCain said.

[ebalosus]

It did pass, completely unopposed.

Source

Oh for fucks sake!  Combine that with the latest TPP negotiations happening in my backyard, this has been a terrible week for freedom...

[Goaticus]

It did pass, completely unopposed.

Source

But where was the anointed son, Rand Paul?

[MrBogosity]

But where was the anointed son, Rand Paul?

Voted for it. Fuck Republicans.

[Goaticus]

Voted for it. Fuck Republicans.

After the Romney endorsement I will add in the ass with a curling iron.

[Goaticus]

What I assume goes through every persons mind who votes for Republicans in order to balance the budget.

[AnCap Dave]

I view Rand Paul as traitorous slime. Unfortunately, I'm sure many young "liberty-minded" people will continue to support him, even though he stabbed them in the back multiple times.

[Travis Retriever]

I view Rand Paul as traitorous slime. Unfortunately, I'm sure many young "liberty-minded" people will continue to support him, even though he stabbed them in the back multiple times.

And continues to do so.