Senator Mary Landrieu (D-LA) objects to permanent ban on Internet taxation. Any move to lift the ban on Internet taxation will affect the innovation and growth of Internet that changed the way of communication across the globe. But things are moving fast, and Landrieu is all set to become a roadblock on the Internet Superhighway.

 

The current Internet Tax Freedom Act will expire on November 1. So the Senate was poised to vote on a permanent extension Thursday night. However, Sen. Mary Landrieu voiced objection to S. 2128, the Permanent Internet Tax Freedom Act, effectively halting the vote. The Senate consideration of S. 2128 followed the Tuesday passage in the House of a temporary extension of the current moratorium. This is not the first time Landrieu stalled such voting. She helped to thwart a similar bill in 2003.

 

"Yesterday Senator Landrieu took a stand against taxpayers, innovation and economic growth by blocking a vote on the Permanent Internet Tax Freedom Act," said taxpayer advocate Grover Norquist, president of Americans for Tax Reform (ATR). "With broad support for permanently banning Internet taxes, Landrieu's efforts to stand in the way of S. 2128 are surprising -- especially after her constituents relied heavily on Internet communication following Hurricane Katrina."

 

ATR is a non-partisan coalition of taxpayers and taxpayer groups who oppose all federal, state and local tax increases. However the temporary extension of the ban was hailed by many.

 

"The House's temporary extension is a good step toward a permanent ban," continued Norquist. "As the Senate moves forward, I urge senators to support at least the temporary extension, as well as the permanent ban on Internet access taxes."

 

The House extension, which passed with a vote of 405 to 2, does not make the current moratorium permanent, despite broad support for a permanent ban on taxing Internet access. Rep. Anne Eshoo's (D-CA (News - Alert)) permanent bill, which has 238 cosponsors, was not considered on the floor, nor were amendments allowed under the rules for the vote.