A new spending bill of $1.1 trillion was
released on Tuesday and
is being referred to as “CRomnibus,” because it is partially a continuing
resolution and partially omnibus. CRomnibus includes a provision that would
extend the ban on Internet taxes for a year. According to The Hill, Senator Ron
Wyden (D-OR), who coauthored the Internet Tax Freedom Act the late 1990s, still
remains one of the biggest voices in Congress supporting the elimination of
Internet taxes. Senator Wyden said: “A
fair and open Internet is an engine of economic growth in America, a launching
pad for entrepreneurs and history’s most powerful tool of communication.”
There have been several FSF blogs in recent
months promoting the adoption of the Internet Tax Freedom Forever Act, which
would permanently ban state and local taxes on Internet access, pending Senate
action. (See here, here, and here.) Although a
permanent ban would be preferable, at this point a one year extension of the
ban is certainly better than nothing. However, supporters of an online-sales tax likely will
push for opposing legislation next year.
If this bill passes (and it looks like
it will), it will mean at least an additional year of Internet-driven and market-driven
innovation, content, and economic growth.
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