Infrastructure Appropriations Bill
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.
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City Manager's Office
50 West 13th Street
Dubuque, Iowa 52001-4864
(319) 589-4110
(319) 589-4149 FAX
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~1ay 10, 2000
The Honorable Governor Vilsack
Office of the Governor
State Capitol Building
Des Moines, IA 50319
Dear Governor Vilsack:
It is my understanding that you are considering signing of SF 2453, the Infrastructure,
Appropriations Bill, which funds infrastructure at commercial service airports.
The City of Dubuque supports this bill, as it provides the Dubuque Regional
Airport with the ability to maintain quality facilities and provide first class
service to the community.
The Airport is instrumental in the future of Dubuque. The Airport provides
service between Dubuque and the rest of the world for the many area businesses.
It also serves thousands of people each year who use it for personal travel. This
easy access to air travel is important in the success of Dubuque area businesses
and the quality of life of people in northeast Iowa.
Thank you for your consideration.
Si""'JiJJ~ rJ
Michael C. Van Milligen
City ~1anager
cc The Honorable Mayor Terry Duggan
Dubuque City Council Members
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MEMORANDUM
TO: STATE LEAGUE DIRECTORS
STATE LEAGUE FEDERAL LEGISLATIVE STAFF
MEMBERS OF NATIONAL LEAGUE OF CITIES STEERING
COMMITTEES
FROM: CAMERON WHITMAN
DIRECTOR, POLICY AND FEDERAL RELATIONS
NATIONAL LEAGUE OF CITIES
DATE: APRIL 19, 2000
SUBJECT: ACTION ALERT
Bills have been introduced in the House and Senate that would
extend and expand the moratorium on the Internet which was
passed in the Internet Tax Freedom Act of 1998, and is set to
expire in October 2001. With sixteen months left on the
existing moratorium, there is absolutely not need for Congress
to pass legislation to extend it now.
ACTION NEEDED:
1. Meet with the members of your Congressional delegation
during the Easter recess and urge them to oppose any move in
Congress to extend or expand the current moratorium which
covers Internet access fees, new taxes, as well as multiple and
discriminatory taxes. (The Senate returns to Washington on April 25 and
the House on May 2.
2. Please have your city council pass the attached resolution
on e-Commerce Equity and fax and mail it to your
Congressional delegation as soon as possible.
I
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E-Commerce Equity Resolution
WHEREAS, the use of new communications technologies, including the
Internet, as a way to conduct sales of goods and seMces is
accelerating; and
WHEREAS, out-of-state vendors who conduct sales via the Internet, mail
order, and phone, tmder many circumstances, are not
required by law to collect existing sales and use tuxes
imposed by state and local governments in which the
purchaser resides; and
WHEREAS, the primary barrier to collecting taxes on remote sales is the
Supreme Court's ruling in Quill v. North Dakota which
defers to Congress, and only Congress, to authorize states to
require remote vendors to collect taxes in a manner that does
not unduly burden interstate commerce; and
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inequities between merchants who sell from traditional
"Brick- and-mortar" establishments and those who sell from
electronic stores; and
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of state and local governments and school districts to collect
taxes which finance essential public services including but not
limited to police, fire, emergency medical service, education,
social services, infrastructure development, and local
healthcare; and
WHEREAS, the United States Constitution reserves for the states the right
to collect and impose taxes; and
WHEREAS, 45 states and the District of Columbia collect over 40 percent
of overall revenue from sales taxes to fimd vital public
services; and
WHEREAS, a recent University of Tennessee study estimates that state
sales tax revenue losses in 2003 will exceed $10 billion; and
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WHEREA~ the City of estimates a loss of
$ by (date) , which could
result in a significant reduction of essential public services;
and
WHEREAS, the Advisory Commission on Electronic Commerce,
established by the Internet Tax Freedom Act, failed to
address, in a fair and equitable manner, the growing
volume oftax-fTee sales transactions occurring over the
Internet, which have put "brick-and-mortar" stories at a
competitive disadvantage; and
WHEREAS, the Commission's report to Congress does not effectively
address the tax losses state and local governments will
experience if the Intemet becomes a permanently tax-free
retail market.
THEREFORE BE IT RESOL VEDthat the City of
opposes any congressional action to implement the Advisory Commission
on Electronic Commerce's report proposals that would preempt state and
local sovereignty, guaranteed by the 10th Amendment of the United States
Constitution; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOL VEIXhat the City of
supports simplification of state and local sales taxes, and urges states to
move expeditiously to craft and approve model legislation; and
BE IT FURTHER,RESOL VEDthat the City of
opposes any congressional efforts to expand the current moratorium to cover
state and local sales and use taxes; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOL VEIXhat the City of
opposes any efforts to extend the current moratorium unless the extension is
for two years or less and is directly linked to congressional authorization to
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remote transactions.