Conservatively Speaking
State Senator Mary Lazich (R-New Berlin) represents parts of four counties: Milwaukee, Waukesha, Racine, and Walworth. Her Senate District 28 includes New Berlin, Franklin, Greendale, Hales Corners, Muskego, Waterford, Big Bend and parts of Greenfield, East Troy, and Mukwonago. Senator Lazich has been in the Legislature for more than a decade. She considers herself a tireless crusader for lower taxes, reduced spending and smaller government.
Taxing the Internet: An update
By Mary Lazich
Tuesday, Nov 27 2007, 03:45 PM
In June, I blogged about measures being sought in Congress to tax the very technology you are using right now…the Internet.
I wrote, “Don’t look now but tax-crazy America could be taxing the Internet and your computer as early as this fall. That would mean taxes on e-mail, taxes on Internet shopping, and taxes on broadband connections.State and local governments are pushing Congress for two dramatic changes: the power to charge sales taxes on Internet shopping, and the ability to impose new monthly taxes on DSL and other Net connections. The result could be an increase in tax collections in the billions of dollars.”
Here’s my summer blog on the issue.
There is good news.
Both the U.S. Senate and the House of Representatives approved extending a moratorium on Internet taxes for another seven years, ensuring that Americans will be able to continue using the Internet tax-free. A powerful tool, the Internet has provided a tremendous shot in the arm to the nation’s economy, and has become a necessary component of everyday life for millions of Americans. President Bush signed into law the legislation extending the moratorium for seven years.
Keep in mind the National Governor’s Association (NGA) favors taxes on the Internet, and lobbied Congress to extend the moratorium for another four years, not seven. Governor Doyle is a member of the NGA Executive Committee and the NGA Economic Development and Commerce Committee.
The seven –year reprieve is very good news for small business, consumers, and taxpayers. Even better news would be to make the moratorium on Internet taxes permanent.
It is important to note that even though the moratorium on Internet taxes was extended, Internet access services remain taxable in Wisconsin. Here are details from the Wisconsin Department of Revenue
