Rep. Lofgren Joins Colleagues in Call for Internet Tax Moratorium Vote

November 17, 2004

“It is time to provide certainty to the market and consumers”

Media Contact: Heather Wong, 202.225.3072

Today, Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren (D- San Jose) joined by 31 colleagues in the House of Representatives, sent a letter urging Speaker Dennis Hastert to schedule a vote this week to extend the internet tax moratorium. The Internet tax moratorium expired over one year ago. Prior to that expiration, the House passed H.R. 49, a bill that would have permanently extended the moratorium. Last April, the Senate passed its own version, S. 150, which instead extends the moratorium for another four years. The letter calls for a vote on the Senate version of the bill.

The following is a copy of the letter:

November 16, 2004
The Honorable Dennis Hastert
Speaker of the House
The Capitol
H-232
Washington, D.C. 20510

Dear Mr. Speaker,

As you know, last year the House passed H.R. 49, which would permanently extend the moratorium on Internet access taxes and prohibit multiple and discriminatory taxes on Internet commerce. Last April, the Senate passed its own version, S. 150, which would instead extend the moratorium for four years.

Although we prefer the permanent extension found in H.R. 49, we believe it is time to resolve this issue and pass S. 150. The Internet tax moratorium expired over one year ago. For over one year, ISPs and consumers have had to deal with the very real possibility that all fifty states could tax Internet access.

We cannot continue to allow this uncertainty to harm the future of the Internet. The Internet has been a driving force in our economy. A toll to enter the information superhighway is not good policy today, and it won’t be good policy when the 109th Congress convenes in January. It is time to provide certainty to the market and consumers.

We urge you to schedule a vote for S. 150 this week.

Sincerely,

Rep. Zoe Lofgren Rep. Ra"l M. Grijalva

Rep. Betty McCollum Rep. Rub_n Hinojosa

Rep. Mike Thompson Rep. Anna Eshoo

Rep. Mike Honda Rep. Mike Doyle

Rep. Rick Boucher Rep. Robert T. Matsui

Rep. Brad Sherman Rep. Bob Filner

Rep. Gary Ackerman Rep. Ron Kind

Rep. David Wu Rep. David Price

Rep. Steny Hoyer Rep. Ben Cardin

Rep. Howard Berman Rep. Linda Sanchez

Rep. Sam Farr Rep. Joe Baca

Rep. Lois Capps Rep. Ellen Tauscher

Rep. Diane Watson Rep. Lynn Woolsey

Rep. Dennis Cardoza Rep. Hilda Solis

Rep. Susan A. Davis Rep. John. F. Tierney

Rep. Joseph Crowley