Boehner Calls on Democratic Leaders to Schedule Vote on a Permanent Internet Tax Ban

From the inbox:

WASHINGTON, D.C. – House Republican Leader John Boehner (R-OH) today announced he has signed on as a cosponsor of H.R. 743, the bipartisan Permanent Internet Tax Freedom Act of 2007, and H.R. 1077, the bipartisan Internet Consumer Protection Act of 2007. Calling on the Democratic leadership to schedule a permanent Internet tax ban for a vote as soon as possible in the House, Boehner issued the following statement:

“Al Gore didn’t create the Internet, but the leaders of his party are eminently capable of taxing it. By hesitating to renew the Internet tax ban, the Democratic leadership in Congress is playing an irresponsible game of chicken with American consumers and our nation’s economy.

“The Internet is driving economic growth and prosperity in ways we couldn’t have imagined 20 years ago, and its potential for driving new growth in the future remains unlimited. The decision by the Republican Congress in the late 1990s to keep the Internet tax-free has allowed the American people to continually capitalize on its growth. The tax moratorium is set to expire in a matter of weeks, but there’s been no action by the House or Senate to renew it. It is disturbing that the leadership of the Democrat-controlled Congress seems hesitant to commit to extending the Internet tax ban well into the future. This hesitation becomes more evident and public with each passing day, sending the wrong signal to American families, consumers, and small business operators whose economic well-being is directly linked to the Internet.

“I call on Speaker Pelosi, Majority Leader Hoyer, and the majority leadership in the House to schedule a permanent Internet tax ban for a vote, so that President Bush can sign legislation into law to keep the Internet tax-free.”

NOTE: The Permanent Internet Tax Freedom Act (H.R. 743) was introduced on January 31, 2007 by Rep. Anna Eshoo (D-CA), and the Internet Consumer Protection Act (H.R. 1077) was introduced on February 15, 2007 by Rep. John Campbell (R-CA).