Angus King on Technology Independent Former ME Governor

Internet approaches economists' ideal of a perfect market

And the Web is an amazing resource. It approaches the economists' ideal of a perfect market, where buyers & sellers have almost total access to one another and information is unlimited, available and easily accessible. We are barely beginning to realize the potential this has for fundamental social, cultural, and economic change.

High-speed Internet connection for rural parts of Maine

And tonight, we’re hitting the bandwidth jackpot. First, Time Warner is extending their cable-based high speed internet service, called Roadrunner to northern Maine, the first time Roadrunner has been deployed outside an urban area anywhere in the country. For the rest of the state, Bell Atlantic will be bringing to Maine their own high speed Internet service over ordinary phone wires-called DSL-within the next month.

Voted YES on authorizing states to collect Internet sales taxes.

Opponent's Argument for voting No (Cnet.com): Online retailers are objecting to S.743, saying it's unreasonable to expect small businesses to comply with the detailed--and sometimes conflicting--regulations of nearly 10,000 government tax collectors. S.743 caps years of lobbying by the National Retail Federation and the Retail Industry Leaders Association, which represent big box stores. President Obama also supports the bill.

Proponent's Argument for voting Yes: Sen. COLLINS. This bill rectifies a fundamental unfairness in our current system. Right now, Main Street businesses have to collect sales taxes on every transaction, but outbecause -of-state Internet sellers don't have to charge this tax, they enjoy a price advantage over the mom-and-pop businesses. This bill would allow States to collect sales taxes on Internet sales, thereby leveling the playing field with Main Street businesses. This bill does not authorize any new or higher tax, nor does it impose an Internet tax. It simply helps ensure that taxes already owed are paid.

Opponent's Argument for voting No: Sen. WYDEN: This bill takes a function that is now vested in government--State tax collection--and outsources that function to small online retailers. The proponents say it is not going to be hard for small businesses to handle this--via a lot of new computer software and the like. It is, in fact, not so simple. There are more than 5,000 taxing jurisdictions in our country. Some of them give very different treatment for products and services that are almost identical.

Cooperate with Canada on regional info tech workforce.

• WHEREAS, New England and Eastern Canada have among the highest concentration of information technology workers in the nation, with major specializations in high skill, high wage information technology occupations, which are integral for the region’s high tech computer, electronics, e-commerce and communications sectors, as well as other industries such as finance, insurance and manufacturing; and
• WHEREAS, the Conference of New England Governors and Eastern Canadian Premiers (NEG-ECP) Knowledge Industry Innovators’ Forum recognizes the importance of continuing to build the skills of its workforce in information technology to strengthen its ability to compete and sustain the long-term economic growth of the knowledge economy; and
• WHEREAS, the NEG-ECP recognizes the importance of the ability to predict and respond to the changing information technology workforce needs will be critical to maximizing opportunities to develop the region’s knowledge economy in the future;
• NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the NEG-ECP will cooperate in addressing regional information technology workforce needs to enhance and build upon state and provincial initiatives already underway; and
• BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Conference task a group of key knowledge industry stakeholders to work together to identify appropriate actions to:
  1. Identify, develop and promote the adoption of appropriate skill standards and assessment tools to ensure the region’s education and training institutions and their graduates are recognized internationally for excellence;
  2. Improve regional information technology workforce projections and analysis initiatives in order to better anticipate and adapt to the changing needs of the knowledge economy; and
  3. Develop networks and share best practices on a regional basis, and to meet annually to discuss key issues.

Level playing field for Main Street vs. Internet sales tax.

The nation’s governors have a strong and unified message to Congress: deal fairly with Main Street retailers, consumers, and local governments. In a letter sent to all members of Congress late Friday, 44 governors said:

If you care about a level playing field for Main Street retail businesses and local control of states, local governments, and schools, extend the moratorium on taxing Internet access ONLY with authorization for the states to streamline and simplify the existing sales tax system. To do otherwise perpetuates a fundamental inequity and ignores a growing problem.

Currently, sales and use taxes are owed on all online transactions, but states are prohibited from requiring “remote sellers” to collect and remit those levies. A 1992 US Supreme Court decision said states can only require sellers that have a physical presence in the same state as the consumer to collect so-called use taxes. In instances when a seller does not have a physical presence, consumers are required to calculate and remit the taxes owed to their home states at the end of the year. The problem is most people are unaware that they’re supposed to pay, and states lack an effective enforcement mechanism. Online and catalog sellers, thereby, have a significant price advantage over Main Street businesses that must collect a sales tax on all transactions.

The loophole creates serious budget problems for schools, states, and local governments. A study estimated that states could lose as much as $14 billion by 2004 if they are unable to collect existing taxes on Web-based sales. Nearly half of state revenues come from sales taxes.

Create International Northern and Biotechnology Corridor.

• WHEREAS, the biotechnology industry already contributes substantially to Northeast economies and is rapidly expanding; and
• WHEREAS, a common interest has emerged among New England States and Eastern Canadian Provinces to promote cooperation in biotechnology; and
• WHEREAS, certain activities, information exchanges, and initiatives originating in individual states and provinces can be shared by all jurisdictions synergistically; and
• WHEREAS, such efforts should be coordinated to optimize the returns on public investments; and
• WHEREAS, there is common agreement among jurisdictional governmental and biotechnology leaders that a coordinating structure should be created;
• NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Conference of New England Governors and Eastern Canadian Premiers support the creation of an International Northern and Biotechnology Corridor to promote biotechnology developments withing the region.
• BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT the Conference, through the Secretariats, establish a coordinating mechanism to move the initiative forward and that a progress report be presented to the Conference at its 1999 meeting.