CEI Argues Against Adding Internet Sales Tax to Omnibus Spending Bill

Today, Competitive Enterprise Institute’s Jessica Melugin joined U.S. Senators Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) at a press conference to urge members of Congress against including an Internet sales tax in the upcoming omnibus spending bill.

Jessica Melugin, CEI’s associate director of the Center for Technology & Innovation, argues that members of Congress should listen to the people they represent and the small business owners affected, rather than the lobbyists trying to attach this harmful tax to the omnibus bill:

“Expanding sales taxes to online purchases may help state and local politicians, but it would result in a de facto tax hike on consumers. The compliance costs alone from an Internet sales tax would put small online retailers at a huge disadvantage against big box stores, and may even put some out of business, which means higher prices and fewer options for Americans who buy things online. It’s a perfect example of ‘taxation without representation’ because it allows politicians to tax sellers who have no physical presence in their city or state, and therefore, no say in the matter.”

For more information, read the letter to Congress: CEI Joins Coalition Opposing Remote Transactions Parity Act (RTPA), H.R. 2193.