Congressman John Campbell

THE POLITICAL LANDSCAPE: Internet Tax Ban temporary, Again- The Daily Pilot

And in other failed legislation news, Newport Beach Rep. John Campbell on Tuesday had to grit his teeth and support a four-year continuation of the ban on Internet taxes, rather than the permanent ban he’s been pushing since he came to Congress in 2005. The ban, which prevents state and local governments from taxing Internet access, was passed by the House and now needs Senate approval.

“The leadership on the Democratic side did not want to go permanent,” Campbell said. Even though he and other legislators proposed bills for permanent bans, “they just shoved all three of those aside and put together this new one,” he said.

The most common argument is that federal and state governments stand to lose a lot of money if, for example, most people begin using web-based phone service rather than the land lines that are currently taxed. But Campbell argued if the country reaches a point where most business is done online, Congress could consider repealing a “permanent” ban.

Why worry about taxes on Internet use? “It’s a great way for people to have access to information, usually free, that they couldn’t get before,” Campbell said, and he wants to protect that access. If he’s still in Congress in four years, he said, he’ll try the permanent ban again.