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Governor takes stance on Net taxation

Wyoming Gov. Jim Geringer told the Senate Commerce Committee in Washington on Wednesday that no governor wants to tax Internet access. Speaking for the National Governors' Association, Geringer said states simply want to be able to collect sales taxes on Internet transactions. But Massachusetts Lt. Gov. Jane Swift said "a tax on Internet sales will put people in my state out of work; and they would be losing their jobs just because government can't keep its hand out of the cookie jar." Swift also expressed concern that simplifying sales and use taxes so e-commerce companies can collect and transmit taxes will lead to a large bureaucracy. She also called for a permanent ban on Internet access taxes, while Geringer backed extending the moratorium on such taxes without a permanent ban.

Wyoming Gov. Jim Geringer told the Senate Commerce Committee in Washington on Wednesday that no governor wants to tax Internet access. Speaking for the National Governors' Association, Geringer said states simply want to be able to collect sales taxes on Internet transactions. But Massachusetts Lt. Gov. Jane Swift said "a tax on Internet sales will put people in my state out of work; and they would be losing their jobs just because government can't keep its hand out of the cookie jar."

Swift also expressed concern that simplifying sales and use taxes so e-commerce companies can collect and transmit taxes will lead to a large bureaucracy. She also called for a permanent ban on Internet access taxes, while Geringer backed extending the moratorium on such taxes without a permanent ban.