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House Passes Internet Tax Ban
computerlady writes "InfoWorld reports that the House of Representatives today voted a permanent ban on 'levying taxes unique to the Internet.' The Internet Tax Nondiscrimination Act would permanently prohibit taxing jurisdictions in the U.S. from levying such taxes as e-mail taxes, bandwidth taxes, or bit taxes. To become law, the bill would have to pass the U.S. Senate and be signed by President Bush. The Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee approved its version of the bill July 31, and its next stop is the full Senate."
"But it stops various states from trying to sneak in taxes raises when people aren't looking."
Yeah, they'd only waste it on stuff like schools, hospitals, arts, the police etc. I mean look at Scandinavia! I bet they wish they had the levels of crime, truency, teenage pregnancies, murder and such cultured, easy going people as us Americans.
no work? dude, you have a freakin HURRICANE coming your way!
If only they could find a way of taxing annoying e-mails - I think we would all be happy. A filter searches for words "virus warning" or "enlarge" or "microsoft" would get most of them. Then I could sit back and enjoy a clutter-free inbox.
By the inch?
Money for nothing, pix for free
Oh wait.... Is that right? We like this don't we?
Thank goodness I will no longer have to worry about unfair or adverse taxation on my free pornography.
Dude, where's my packet?
no, by the uh... stroke.
Here in Europe whilst we do have healthcare free at the point of delivery, you Americans do have some wonderful ships, aircraft, tanks, missiles etc.
--
This sig is inoffensive.
... until your internet access goes down.
I didn't read the article because I just got an urgent importaint message.
I just got this email saying the bell company was about to put a $50 per month tax on all modems. We must write congress at once to stop this. Most of us can afford to call BBSes if this goes through so write a letter now!
They tried: House sends spam bill to Senate; Senate spam filter deletes it
The "exemption" will run out and it'll be a question of proactively passing a ban on taxes again. That won't happen forever.
the major advances in civilization are processes which all but wreck the societies in which they occur - A.N. White
The president found a source of money large enough to occupy... errrr... liberate Iraq for another 6 months. Also... The president read in a newspaper that it is possible to tax the internet. A veto on HR 49 is expected.
I can't believe this, what a dissapointment. How are all these children who are getting left behind supposed to get a good education if taxes are not taken from selfish consumers?
I know a certain elementary school that has to share computers. There are, say, 5 computers for 20 kids. How would you feel at work if your boss told you, "Hey, Cmdr Burrito, you are going to have to share this pc with charlie here." Not to mention the fact that these machines, which dumb down our kids by weening them on the win-doze inyourface, are, at best Pentium 3s. No wonder our kids are so damn stupid.
That's just the tip of the old iceberg people. without these taxes, we will not be able to afford any tax cuts. So kiss those goodbye. And don't forget perscription psycho-active drugs for your kids. Who is supposed to pay for that? Without tax revenue from the internet I will have to go back to beating my kids when I find him using Kazaa on my computer! Imagine that, not taxing the internet actually causing the physical injury to our children.
Fine, fine, if you selfish bastards want a nation of uneducated, unmedicated, bruised and soar-assed kids then be that way. As for me, I am going to pay these taxes anyway. That's right, I will just send a check at the end of every month, (anonymously of course) to the government. I will not be a part of the problem.
Uhm, lets see.. "Dubya dubya..." Errr.. can I have another copy of this please?
Audio Version Available here from School-House-Rock.com
Please mod this up for nostalgia and educational value. You know you watched this as a kid. Represent for the Nintendo generation!
Boy: Whew! You sure gotta climb a lot of steps to get to this Capitol Building here in Washington. But I wonder who that sad little scrap of paper is?
I'm just a bill.
Yes, I'm only a bill.
And I'm sitting here on Capitol Hill.
Well, it's a long, long journey
To the capital city.
It's a long, long wait
While I'm sitting in committee,
But I know I'll be a law some day
At least I hope and pray that I will
But today I am still just a bill.
Boy: Gee, Bill, you certainly have a lot of patience and courage.
Bill: Well, I got this far. When I started I wasn't even a bill, I was just an idea. Some folks back home decided they wanted a law passed, so they called their local Congressman, and said, "You're right, there oughta be a law." Then he sat down and wrote me out and introduced me to Congress. And I became a bill, and I'll remain a bill until they decide to make me a law.
I'm just a bill
Yes I'm only a bill,
And I got as far as Capitol Hill.
Well, now I'm stuck in committee
And I'll sit here and wait
While a few key Congressmen discuss and debate
Whether they should let me be a law.
How I hope and pray that they will,
But today I am still just a bill.
Boy: Listen to those Congressmen arguing! Is all that discussion and debate about you?
Bill: Yeah, I'm one of the lucky ones. Most bills never even get this far. I hope they decide to report on me favorably, otherwise I may die.
Boy: Die?
Bill: Yeah, die in committee. Ooh, but it looks like I'm gonna live! Now I go to the House of Representatives, and they vote on me.
Boy: If they vote yes, what happens?
Bill: Then I go to the Senate and the whole thing starts all over again.
Boy: Oh no!
Bill: Oh yes!
I'm just a bill
Yes, I'm only a bill
And if they vote for me on Capitol Hill
Well, then I'm off to the White House
Where I'll wait in a line
With a lot of other bills
For the president to sign
And if he signs me, then I'll be a law.
How I hope and pray that he will,
But today I am still just a bill.
Boy: You mean even if the Whole Congress says you
should be a law, the president can still say no?
Bill: Yes, that's called a veto. If the president vetoes me, I have to go back to Congress and they vote on me again, and by that time you're so old...
Boy: By that time it's very unlikely that you'll become a law. It's not easy to become a law, is it?
Bill: No!
But how I hope and pray that I will,
But today I am still just a bill.
Congressman: He signed you, Bill!
Now you're a law!
Bill: Oh yes!!!
Let's take a moment to pray for the creator of "School House Rock," Tom Yohe, who recently passed away due to cancer (December 21, 2000). He was truly a brilliant man, and his contribution to this generation's knowledge in many areas cannot be denied. I know he changed my life for the better.