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Special Order on Internet Sales Taxes

by Norm Singleton on MAY 13, 2013 in NATIONAL BLOG
Set your DVRs! This Wednesday, Kentucky Representative Thomas Massie will be giving a one-hour special order speech after Wednesday’s votes on why Members of Congress should oppose the “Marketplace Fairness Act” (more adeptly named the “National Internet Tax Mandate”). Other freshman members who also oppose the National Internet Tax Mandate will join Representative Massie.

Representative Massie, and the other members who will be joining him, deserve praise for speaking out, as Campaign for Liberty has heard from well-placed sources on Capitol Hill that the GOP leadership is pressuring members not to speak out against the Internet Tax Mandate because it is a “divisive” issue. But what leadership really means is, it divides those who oppose raising the price of everything you buy online and imposing new regulations on the Internet from those who support crony capitalism and giving tax-hungry governors new sources of revenue.

Campaign for Liberty will provide more details on the timing and order of the participants as they become available.

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Cell phone unlockers, rejoice! A new bill introduced to the U.S. House of Representatives on Thursday would completely legalize cell phone unlocking by amending one of the most controversial sections of U.S. copyright law.

Introduced by Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY), Anna Eshoo (D-CA) and Rep. Jared Polis (D-CO), H.R. 1892, dubbed the “Unlocking Technology Act of 2013″ (PDF), would legalize cell phone and tablet unlocking by clarifying that the software “circumvention” needed to unlock a handset does not qualify as copyright infringement, as long as infringement is not the purpose of unlocking. It would also legalize the use and distribution of software that enables unlocking.

Unlocking a cell phone or tablet with a cellular radio allows owners to use the device on multiple wireless carrier networks.

The Unlocking Technology Act of 2013 would also make it permanently legal to jailbreak cell phones and tablets, which allows unauthorized apps to run on devices, and to mod game consoles – all of which are currently forbidden under Section 1201 of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act.

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WASHINGTON – Congressman Massie has released the following statement regarding his vote against the Full Faith and Credit Act.

“I voted against the Full Faith and Credit Act today because it is a debt limit increase, and I think many do not realize that,” said Rep. Massie. “While I support the idea of debt prioritization, this bill does not do that.”

The original prioritization language was replaced in committee with language that allows the federal government to further increase the nation’s debt. By exempting interest payments and many principal rollovers from the debt limit, this bill now permits, and even incentivizes, the federal government to continue issuing trillions of dollars of new debt.

“Instead of helping to bring the national debt under control, this bill will only make a bad problem worse,” continued Massie.

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Rep. Thomas Massie has penned a letter in defense of internet freedom – and he’s looking for support.

Under the guise of a “Marketplace Fairness Act,” big-government politicians are colluding with big-business to levy taxes on internet purchases. Not only would this legislation boost the tax bill for America’s consumers, it would slow down an already stagnant economy. Our job creators are already hampered by aggressive regulations– they simply can’t afford more bureaucratic red tape.

Rep. Massie wrote a letter to Speaker Boehner and Leader Cantor, urging them to oppose this Internet Tax bill in the House. Let’s try to rally up more support. Get on the phone with Reps. Jim Jordan, Steve Scalise, Raul Labrador, Paul Broun, and Andy Harris. Ask them to sign Massie’s letter. These are some of the most principled, conservative members of Congress, and they would make fantastic allies for Rep. Massie.

Call one of the trustworthy members of Congress below, and urge them to sign on to Massie’s letter!

Make a Call:

Helpful Points:

- I'm calling you today because you are on the most principled members of the U.S. Congress -- and I'm hopeful you can help fight back against internet taxation.

- The Marketplace Fairness Act is an attempt to tax internet commerce.

- The proposed legislation is neither fair nor market based.

- Rep. Massie needs all the support he can get in order to block this terrible bill.

Call Congressman Paul Broun
Office Phone: (202) 225-4101
Log a call to Congressman Paul Broun's Office

Call Congressman Andy Harris
Office Phone: (202) 225-5311
Log a call to Congressman Andy Harris's Office

Call Congressman Jim Jordan
Office Phone: (202) 225-2676
Log a call to Congressman Jim Jordan's Office

Call Congressman Raul Labrador
Office Phone: (202) 225-6611
Log a call to Congressman Raul Labrador's Office

Call Congressman Steve Scalise
Office Phone: (202) 225-3015
Log a call to Congressman Steve Scalise's Office

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Today, Representatives Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (D-VA) and Thomas Massie (R-KY) introduced the bipartisan “Justice Safety Valve Act of 2013,” which would give federal judges the flexibility to issue sentences below mandatory minimums. Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) and Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, introduced sister legislation on March 20, 2013.

“Mandatory minimum sentences have been shown to mandate unjust results,” said Rep. Scott. “They have a racially discriminatory impact, studies conclude that they waste the taxpayer’s money, and they often violate common sense.”

“The one size fits all approach of federally mandated minimums does not give local judges the latitude they need to ensure that punishments fit the crimes,” said Rep. Massie. “As a result, nonviolent offenders are sometimes given excessive sentences. Furthermore, public safety can be compromised because violent offenders are released from our nation's overcrowded prisons to make room for nonviolent offenders.”

Mandatory minimums force federal judges to issue indiscriminate punishments, regardless of involvement or criminal history. The Justice Safety Valve Act of 2013 would expand the current “safety valve” provision to include all federal crimes, allowing federal judges to tailor sentences on a case-by-case basis. This would also reduce the bloated federal prison population.

The Federal Bureau of Prisons represents over 25 percent of the Department of Justice annual budget, and encumbers resources otherwise available to law enforcement and other community safety programs.

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WASHINGTON — The U.S. Chamber of Commerce presented Congressman Massie with the annual Spirit of Enterprise Award for his support of pro-jobs, pro-growth policies during the second session of the 112th Congress.

“In the face of high-stakes politics and difficult choices, Congressman Massie provided America’s job creators with a strong voice in Congress,” said Thomas J. Donohue, president and CEO of the U.S. Chamber. “This award recognizes Congressman Massie for consistently demonstrating his support for pro-growth policies.”

The Chamber’s prestigious Spirit of Enterprise Award, in its 25th year, is given annually to members of Congress based on key business issues outlined in the Chamber publication How They Voted. Members who support the Chamber’s position on at least 70% of those votes qualify to receive the award.

According to the scorecard, Congressman Massie received a 100% rating with the Chamber this year.

"I am grateful for this award, and I will continue to advance free-market, pro-growth legislation as I serve Kentucky's 4th District," said Rep. Massie.

The Chamber scored Congress on 8 Senate and 12 House votes in 2012, including reauthorization of the Export-Import Bank of the United States, the establishment of Permanent Normal Trade Relations (PNTR) with Russia, and the reauthorization of surface transportation legislation. Also scored were votes to repeal onerous provisions in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, improve the process by which regulations are promulgated, and better secure the United States from cyber threats.

To view a complete list of the 2012 Spirit of Enterprise recipients, please visit www.uschamber.com/soe.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is the world’s largest business federation representing the interests of more than 3 million businesses of all sizes, sectors, and regions, as well as state and local chambers. The Chamber of Commerce endorsed Massie during his campaign for congress.

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