Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D., Nev.) is determined to pass an internet sales tax bill after the election, as well as legislation that would give a tax break for the Democratic leaders’ constituents.
“We have to do something about marketplace fairness,” Reid said during a Democratic leadership press conference with Senator Chuck Schumer (D., N.Y.) and Senator Dick Durbin (D., Ill.). “That is long, long overdue, and we’re going to have to have whatever it takes to get that done.”
The Marketplace Fairness Act “would grant all states the power to collect taxes from out-of-state vendors selling goods to their residents,” per the Washington Post.
Senator Ted Cruz (R., Texas) told reporters Wednesday that he opposes taking up any legislation during the lame-duck session due to a concern that lawmakers who have already lost their elections will raise taxes.
“[I]n a lame duck you have members of Congress who were just defeated at the polls casting their final votes free from any accountability to the voters,” Cruz said. ”And it is in lame-duck sessions that Congresses are much more likely to raise taxes, are much more likely to consider and pass things like amnesty, and are much more likely to hand out corporate welfare.”
Reid also said to pass certain tax breaks, mentioning one that would benefit the Democratic leaders’ constituents in particular.
“We have to do the tax extenders, that has really been extremely hurtful, not just to businesses, but, for example, I know people focus on Illinois and New York about transit,” Reid said. “But, we in Nevada, especially in the southern part of the state, we have huge needs to give the people who ride the transit some tax breaks, and we need to do that.”