More than 40 Groups Tell Senate to Include ITFA Extension in Customs Bill
TechFreedom joined a coalition of more than 40 U.S. organizations in sending a letter (here) Jan. 21 urging Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., and Minority Leader Harry Reid, D-Ill., support a permanent prohibition on Internet access taxes. Despite its omission from the House and Senate versions of customs reauthorization legislation, the Internet Tax Freedom Act (ITFA), which bars states from levying taxes on Internet access and e-commerce, was inserted in the final conference report of the Trade Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Act (TFTA). “Our organizations have a variety of missions and represent Americans from all walks of life and on all sides of the political spectrum, and it’s very rare that we agree on policy or work together in a unified manner,” the letter states. “But this issue is different. We support ITFA because it’s a permanent ban on taxing access to the Internet is critical to all Americans and the future of our overall economy.
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After passing the House in December, the customs legislation has remained stalled in the Senate. Voicing opposition to ITFA’s injection, senators led by Minority Whip Dick Durbin, D-Ill., have threatened to raise a point of order during any floor vote, in hopes of extracting the ITFA from the larger bill (see 1601140004). McConnell’s office did not respond to questions about when a vote might be scheduled.