U.S. Senator John Thune (R-South Dakota), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and member of the tax-writing Senate Finance Committee, today applauded the U.S. House of Representative’s broad bipartisan approval of the companion bill to his Internet Tax Freedom Forever Act (S. 1431), which he introduced with Senator Ron Wyden (D-Oregon). The House passed the bill by voice vote.
“The Internet is a key driver of economic growth, innovation, and information in our 21st century economy,” said Thune. “I applaud the House for its strong, bipartisan passage of the Permanent Internet Tax Freedom Act. I am proud to be the lead Republican sponsor of this important legislation that will keep taxes off Internet access and encourage more Americans to use broadband. It’s time for Leader Reid to take up this bipartisan bill to ensure we continue to keep the Internet accessible to consumers across the country and encourage innovation and investment in our global economy.”
In the early days of the Internet, state and local jurisdictions sought to impose multiple and discriminatory taxes on the new medium. This practice threatened to stifle innovation and economic growth. The original ITFA was enacted in 1998 to place a moratorium on new taxes. The law has been successfully reauthorized three times. Thune’s bill would make the moratorium permanent, giving online innovators and entrepreneurs the stability they need to grow their businesses.
Thune and Wyden’s Internet Tax Freedom Forever Act is also supported by 50 other senators, including: Senators Kelly Ayotte (R-New Hampshire), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wisconsin), John Barrasso (R-Wyoming), Mark Begich (D-Alaska), Roy Blunt (R-Missouri), John Boozman (R-Arkansas), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Richard Burr (R-North Carolina), Saxby Chambliss (R-Georgia), Dan Coats (R-Indiana), Thad Cochran (R-Mississippi), Chris Coons (D-Delaware), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Joe Donnelly (D-Indiana), Deb Fischer (R-Nebraska), Jeff Flake (R-Arizona), Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Kay Hagan (D-North Carolina), Dean Heller (R-Nevada), Jim Inhofe (R-Oklahoma), Johnny Isakson (R-Georgia), Mike Johanns (R-Nebraska), Ron Johnson (R-Wisconsin), Tim Johnson (D-South Dakota), Mark Kirk (R-Illinois), Patrick Leahy (D-Vermont), Mike Lee (R-Utah), Ed Markey (D-Massachusetts), John McCain (R-Arizona), Mitch McConnell (R-Kentucky), Jeff Merkley (D-Oregon), Jerry Moran (R-Kansas), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Patty Murray (D-Washington), Rob Portman (R-Ohio), Mark Pryor (D-Arkansas), Pat Roberts (R-Kansas), Marco Rubio (R-Florida), Chuck Schumer (D-New York), Tim Scott (R-South Carolina), Jeanne Shaheen (D-New Hampshire), Jon Tester (D-Montana), Pat Toomey (R-Pennsylvania), Mark Udall (D-Colorado), Tom Udall (D-New Mexico), David Vitter (R-Louisiana), John Walsh (D-Montana), and Roger Wicker (R-Mississippi).