Congressman Thomas Massie on Tuesday voiced his opposition to the Marketplace Fairness Act, following in the footsteps of his Republican colleagues. Massie took to Facebook with the following message:
Today I joined Senator Ted Cruz, Senator-elect Congressman Steve Daines, Congressman Walter Jones, Rep. Paul Gosar, Congressman Doug Lamborn and several groups at a press conference in opposition to the Internet Sales Tax, otherwise known as the Marketplace Fairness Act.
The Marketplace Fairness Act allows taxation without representation. Businesses would be subject to tax policies of other states with no ability to influence those policies. The taxes they pay would fund infrastructure they don’t use. Even retailers in states without a sales tax would be required to collect sales tax.
Some have said that this bill is about States’ rights, and I’m a strong proponent of States’ rights; but this bill does nothing to protect States’ rights. In fact, this bill changes the very fabric, the constitutional fabric of the United States of America by subjecting people and businesses in one State to the taxes and regulations of another State. This is unprecedented. For the first time in history, this bill would grant States jurisdictions beyond their physical borders. If this bill passes, we’ll have a virtual United States of America where borders no longer mean anything.
Last week, John Boehner vowed to block the bill, which proponents think would level the playing field between brick-and-mortar businesses and online businesses.
More background on the bill here.
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