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TO REQUEST THE CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES TO SUPPORT A REPEAL OF THE FEDERAL EXCISE TAX ON TELECOMMUNICATIONS.
Whereas, the federal excise tax on communications was enacted in 1898 for the purpose of funding the Spanish-American War; and
Whereas, the tax was introduced as a "temporary" luxury tax; and
Whereas, telephone service is no longer a luxury but rather a necessity for consumers of all income levels; and
Whereas, the federal excise tax is regressive, as low-income Americans pay a higher percentage of their income for telephone services than high-income Americans; and
Whereas, telecommunications services are the infrastructure upon which new technologies, including the Internet depend, and therefore the telecommunications excise tax discourages expansion of both the telephone infrastructure and new technologies; and
Whereas, the federal excise tax on telecommunications flows into the general fund, rather than being earmarked for a specific purpose; and
Whereas, both Houses of Congress passed a repeal of the federal excise tax on telecommunications in 2000 which was vetoed by President Clinton. Now, therefore,
Be it resolved by the Senate, the House of Representatives concurring:
That the members of the South Carolina General Assembly, by this resolution, request the Congress of the United States to support a repeal of the federal excise tax on telecommunications.
Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to the United States Senate, the United States House of Representatives, and to each member of the South Carolina Congressional Delegation.
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