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FC: Clinton predicts "consensus" emerging on Internet taxes
From: Declan McCullagh <declan () well com>
Date: Thu, 30 Mar 2000 17:37:46 -0500
PRESS CONFERENCE WITH PRESIDENT CLINTON THE EAST ROOM, THE WHITE HOUSE 2:09 P.M. EST DATE: WEDNESDAY, MARCH 29, 2000 [...snip...] Q The Internet commission is meeting on electronic commerce, and they are giving some proposals. What are your thoughts about what proposals you think they should come out with? And also, what about the states as electronic commerce becomes more and more available on the 'net and may take revenue from the states?PRESIDENT CLINTON: Well, I think -- first of all, I supported the moratorium
on taxes, and I saw where Mr. Gephardt did as well a couple of days ago, and I think that's good. I think that we should.I think that the process that has been set up is the right one. I don't know
what the solution is, but I think the states are going to have to get together with these companies and figure out -- first of all, I don't think there should be any access taxes or new transactional taxes or anything will overly burden Internet commerce, because it's making a real contribution to our economy. The real issue is, as a higher and higher percentage of sales are conducted over the Internet, what happens to the sales tax base of the states? Are they going to have to go to a different kind of taxation, because they don't want to prejudice ordinary retailers? On the other hand, some of the people in the Internet business think that any sales tax will make them at a -- put them at a disadvantage, because they have to charge shipping charges. So they'll -- I think that's a matter that the states will have to work out. Since they're basically state taxes, I think we ought to leave it to them. But the governors are highly attuned to economic development. They will not lightly hurt their economies, but they also have responsibilities to fund their schools and other public services, and I just think they're going to have to work through it. I think, over the next year or so, you will begin to see some kind of consensus emerge. [...snip...] -------------------------------------------------------------------------- POLITECH -- the moderated mailing list of politics and technology To subscribe, visit http://www.politechbot.com/info/subscribe.html This message is archived at http://www.politechbot.com/ --------------------------------------------------------------------------
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- FC: Clinton predicts "consensus" emerging on Internet taxes Declan McCullagh (Mar 30)