Home > VALLEY ENTREPRENEUR TO TESTIFY BEFORE CONGRESS ON INTERNET TAX THREAT

VALLEY ENTREPRENEUR TO TESTIFY BEFORE CONGRESS ON INTERNET TAX THREAT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

October 1, 2007

VALLEY ENTREPRENEUR TO TESTIFY BEFORE CONGRESS ON INTERNET TAX THREAT

(North Hollywood, CA) The owner of a San Fernando Valley-based online retailer has been asked to testify before Congress about the threat of a new internet tax.

Brett Dewey, who owns the North Hollywood-based online gift and novelty site WickedCoolStuff.com has been invited to testify before the House Small Business Committee on Wednesday, October 3rd on the hardships that small businesses like his would face if the moratorium on internet taxes were to expire as scheduled on November 1st.

“My wife and I have a small company with five employees and we are being hit by the same forces that are hitting every other sector of the economy,” said Dewey as he prepared to head to Washington for the hearing this Wednesday. “A new tax could force us to eliminate health insurance, lay off employees, or even potentially close our doors.”

Congress voted to prevent local governments from imposing taxes on internet access or transactions in 1998. Congress has twice extended the moratorium, but is set to expire on November 1st of this year. In response a bi-partisan coalition of Senators and Representatives have been working to extend the moratorium, or even make it permanent.

“We launched WickedCoolStuff.com after the moratorium was initially put in place. Having it expire now would amount to changing the rules in the middle of the game” Dewey said.

Late last week the US Senate pulled consideration of the moratorium after disagreements emerged over whether to make it permanent or only extend it again for four more years. There are several bills in the House that would also extend the moratorium. The Internet Tax Freedom Amendment introduced by Judiciary Committee Chairman Representative John Conyers (D-Mich.) would extend the moratorium for four years and the Permanent Internet Tax Freedom Act introduced by Representative Anna Eshoo (D-Calif.) would, as the name implies, create a permanent ban on internet taxes.

“Clearly we would prefer a permanent ban on internet taxes,” said Dewey. “But some relief is better than no relief, and I would be happy with a four-year extension as well.”

Washington insiders expect some extension to pass before the moratorium expires. “Brett’s testimony will help put a very real face on a very real threat to entrepreneurs,” said Peter Loge, a Washington-based political strategist working with Dewey. “Failing to extend the moratorium would give the green-light to new taxes on small business, something Congress is unlikely to do in this political climate.”

While in Washington, Brett will also be meeting with other members of Congress and their staffs to discuss the internet tax moratorium and the challenges faced by small companies like WickedCoolStuff.com.

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FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Brett Dewey WickedCoolStuff.com


Peter Loge
Milo Public Affairs, LLC
(202) 297-5294





customerservice@wickedcoolstuff.com