Internet Tax Freedom Act
City Manager's Office
50 West 13th Street
Dubuque, Iowa 52001-4864
(319) 589-4110
(319) 589-4149 FAX
5~~~E
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May 2, 2000
The Honorable Tom Harkin
731 Hart Senate Building
Washington, D.C. 20510
Dear Senator Harkin:
It is my understanding that bills have been introduced in the Senate and the House that
would extend and expand the moratorium in the Internet Tax Freedom Act. One bill in
particular, is S.2255, which would extend the moratorium for an additional five years.
The City of Dubuque is opposed to this legislation, or any other legislation, which puts
local businesses at a competitive disadvantage with Internet businesses and which
undermines the integrity of cities' tax revenue system. The City also opposes any efforts
to incorporate the report of the Advisory Commission on Electric Commerce in legislation in
either the Senate or the House.
Currently, out-of-state vendors who conduct sales via the Internet, mail order, and
telephone, under many circumstances, are not required by law to collect existing sales and
use tax imposed by state and local governments in which the purchaser resides. This
competitive disadvantage hurts the local business community.
The City of Dubuque collects approximately $6.1 million dollars in sales tax revenues each
year. These revenues are used for the City's street improvement program and for property
tax relief. A long term decrease in sales tax revenues would also decrease the level of
services to the citizens or increase their taxes, or both.
The City of Dubuque supports congressional authorization to states to simplify their sales
and use tax system to collect sales and use tax on all remote transactions.
Thank you for your consideration on this issue. Please contact me if you have any
questions or concerns.
Sinceren~
Michael C. Van Milligen
City Manager
cc Mayor Terry Duggan
Dubuque City Council Members
Tim Moerman, Assistant City Manager
Pauline Joyce, Administrative Services Manager
Merrill Crawford, Cable TV Administrator
Service
People
Integrity
Responsibility
Innovation
Teamwork
City Manager's Office
50 West 13th Street
Dubuque, Iowa 52001-4864
(319) 589-4110
(319) 589-4149 FAX
5~~~E
5~ck~
May 2, 2000
The Honorable Charles Grassley
135 Hart Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510
Dear Senator Grassley:
It is my understanding that bills have been introduced in the Senate and the House that
would extend and expand the moratorium in the Internet Tax Freedom Act. One bill in
particular, is S.2255, which would extend the moratorium for an additional five years.
The City of Dubuque is opposed to this legislation, or any other legislation, which puts
local businesses at a competitive disadvantage with Internet businesses and which
undermines the integrity of cities' tax revenue system. The City also opposes any efforts
to incorporate the report of the Advisory Commission on Electric Commerce in legislation in
either the Senate or the House.
Currently, out-of-state vendors who conduct sales via the Internet, mail order, and
telephone, under many circumstances, are not required by law to collect existing sales and
use tax imposed by state and local governments in which the purchaser resides. This
competitive disadvantage hurts the local business community.
The City of Dubuque collects approximately $6.1 million dollars in sales tax revenues each
year. These revenues are used for the City's street improvement program and for property
tax relief. A long term decrease in sales tax revenues would also decrease the level of
services to the citizens or increase their taxes, or both.
The City of Dubuque supports congressional authorization to states to simplify their sales
and use tax system to collect sales and use tax on all remote transactions.
Thank you for your consideration on this issue. Please contact me if you have any
questions or concerns.
Sincerel~
Michael C. Van Milligen
City Manager
cc Mayor Terry Duggan
Dubuque City Council Members
Tim Moerman, Assistant City Manager
Pauline Joyce, Administrative Services Manager
Merrill Crawford, Cable TV Administrator
Service
People
Integrity
Responsibility
Innovation
Teamwork
City Manager's Office
50 West 13th Street
Dubuque, Iowa 52001-4864
(319) 589-4110
(319) 589-4149 FAX
5~~~UE
?~~~
May 11, 2000
The Honorable Jim Nussle
303 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515
Dear Representative Nussle:
It is my understanding that bills have been introduced in the Senate and House that would
extend and expand the moratorium in the Internet Tax Freedom Act. One bill in particular,
is S.2255, which would extend the moratorium for an additional five years.
The City of Dubuque is opposed to this legislation, or any other legislation, which puts local
businesses at a competitive disadvantage with Internet businesses and which undermines
the integrity of cities' tax revenue system. The City also opposes any efforts to incorporate
the report of the Advisory Commission on Electric Commerce in legislation in either the
Senate or the House.
Currently, out-of-state vendors who conduct sales via the Internet, mail order, and
telephone, under many circumstances, are not required by law to collect existing sales and
use tax imposed by state and local governments in which the purchaser resides. This
competitive disadvantage hurts the local business community.
The City of Dubuque collects approximately $6.1 million dollars in sales tax revenues each
year. These revenues are used for the City's street improvement program and for property
tax relief. A long term decrease in sales tax revenues would also decrease the level of
services to the citizens or increase their taxes, or both.
The City of Dubuque supports congressional authorization to states to simplify their sales
and use tax system to collect sales and use tax on all remote transactions.
Thank you for your consideration on this issue. Please contact me if you have any
questions or concerns.
Sincer~ly ,
f~
Michael C. Van Milligen
City Manager
cc
Mayor Terry Duggan
Dubuque City Council Members
Tim Moerman, Assistant City Manager
Pauline Joyce, Administrative Services Manager
Merri I Crawford, Cable TV Administrator
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