Sales Taxes

Amazon.com Inc. has insisted that California's new law requiring it to collect sales taxes from customers in the state would hurt the company's ability to compete in the nation's biggest retail market. Nevertheless, in New York, the company and other out-of-state, Internet-only retailers have paid $250 million in sales taxes over three years, thanks to a similar law that state adopted in 2008. New York holds no special sway over the world's largest online retailer. Amazon is following the state's tax collection law, the first in the nation, for one reason only — so it can challenge the validity of the statute in court.

The absurdity of it Re "Sick inmates a threat only to state's budget," March 2 Here we have a semi-paralyzed man shackled to his bed with three corrections officers to guard him. "But you can't argue with policy," says a guard. I guess I am not alone in asking: Whose policy? It really does not matter. If the policy is absurd, which it clearly is, it is a greater absurdity not to change it. The policy that could help ? the medical parole law ? has been on the books for almost six months, but the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation has yet to schedule a single case for a hearing.

PATTERSON, Calif. - Amazon.com Inc.for years has fought government efforts to tax e-commerce. Now it's poised to pocket millions of dollars in sales taxes paid by California customers. As part of a pact reached last year with state lawmakers, some online retailers agreed to begin collecting sales taxes this fall. About half of the projected $316 million raised in the first full year is expected to come from merchandise sold by Amazon, which is also setting up two California fulfillment centers that will employ at least 1,000 workers each.

Statewide taxable sales, or retail sales, have increased steadily since 1994 after recovering from a recessionary downturn in the early '90s. The city of Los Angeles received the lion's share of sales and use taxes levied on retail sales in the county last year. Automotive businesses--including car dealers, suppliers, service stations, and mobile home, boat and motorcycle dealers--were the largest retail-sales-generating group in 1996.

Funny how it works Re "Majority leader found Colbert embarrassing," Sept. 27, and "Taking satire right into Congress," Sept. 25 So poor House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) was embarrassed by comedian Stephen Colbert's congressional testimony? I noticed, as I watched Colbert's most brilliantly written and executed performance, that a number of others shared Hoyer's sentiment. How deeply sad that these men and women of such self-importance can't bring themselves to recognize the value of his appearance.

One that got away Re "Obama should have fought for Warren on consumer agency," Business, July 19 I agree with David Lazarus that Elizabeth Warren is the most qualified person to run the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. So I'm stunned that President Obama, who touts his support for consumers, would so quickly abandon his support for Warren. Lazarus notes that Warren had "drawn fire from the financial services industry [and] its friends in the Republican Party.

The U.S. House of Representatives voted Wednesday to extend the moratorium on Internet sales taxes until 2006. The measure (HR 3709) does not change the current law, under which states can impose, but not collect, sales taxes from nonresident merchants such as mail-order houses or Internet sellers. What it does do is delay or even kill removal of the unfair tax advantage that e-commerce enjoys over traditional retailing. The bill deserves to die in the Senate or be vetoed by the president.

I think your poll on a jail sales tax is misleading. The majority of people oppose such a tax, and rightly they should. Sales taxes are the most regressive and most unfair form of taxation generally used. In Orange County, we are heading for a 10% tax on sales. People should realize they are being grossly misled by the Republican cry, "No new taxes." What this means is: "Don't restore income taxes to previous levels because we can get the money we want through sales taxes." In this way, the poor and middle class pay a much larger share and the wealthy see practically no effect.

Five of the seven candidates seeking to represent a major portion of South Los Angeles on the City Council said Saturday they oppose the sales tax hike on the March 5 ballot, arguing it would disproportionately harm low-income residents. Appearing at their first candidate forum, the contenders seeking to replace Councilwoman Jan Perry staked out positions on public safety, economic development and Proposition A, which would bring the city's tax rate to 9.5%, among the highest in the state.

Those driving on our highways ought to pay more in taxes to build more roads to alleviate congestion, and to encourage conservation with more car-pooling and the driving of more fuel-efficient cars. On the June, 1990, ballot, Gov. George Deukmejian is sponsoring a (ballot measure for a) 5-cent hike in the gasoline tax. It is worthy of all our support. However, the Orange County Transportation Commission is calling an expensive special election to try to increase the sales tax from 6% to 6.5%.