On The Money: Internet Police

From CBS 13:

With California deep in debt, a controversial plan has emerged that calls for private vendors to monitor what you buy on the Internet.
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“This is just a fishing expedition as far as I’m concerned,” said George Runner, an elected member of the Board of Equalization.

Runner is fighting the Board’s staff proposal. CBS 13 asked him to explain how it was pitched to the Board:

“One of the ideas is well, we think there might be some people who will sell us data,” Runner warned about the proposal. “That will tell us what kind of credit card transactions or private transactions that a Californian may have made in purchasing something out of state,” he told CBS 13.

Killing Small Business with California’s Internet Sales Tax

On the Money: Amazon Sales Tax

From CBS 13:

California is deep in debt and looking for revenue everywhere – including the Internet. A controversial move to tax online sales could generate hundreds of millions of dollars for California – but opponents insist it will cost thousands of jobs and actually hurt the State’s economy.
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“Our analysis shows us that instead of actually getting money with this, California actually loses money and actually loses jobs,” said George Runner, a member of the Board of Equalization.

Runner, a former State Senator, says Amazon has threatened to cut 10,000 California affiliates if the bills pass.

Overstock has voiced similar concerns, Runner told CBS 13.

If other companies do the same, California could suffer a loss of $124 million, according to the Performance Marketing Association.

Runner told CBS 13, “A state that already has the second highest unemployment in the nation shouldn’t be doing anything that takes away California jobs.”

Amazon has already cut affiliates in other states with Internet tax measures – and is challenging a similar law in New York. Now the battle heats us in California, with hundreds of millions of dollars at stake.

There are four Internet tax measures now active at the Capitol and one, AB 153, passed a key vote in the Assembly Revenue and Taxation Committee on Monday.

See also George Runner’s response to the Assembly Revenue and Taxation Committee’s approval of AB 153.

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No on 1A and HJTA release Anti-1A Radio Ads

Californians Against New Taxes and the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association have both produced new Anti-1A radio ads. Check them out below.

Californians Against New Taxes:

Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association: