Debate rages over contentious Internet sales tax proposal

Pay up, sucka! The U.S. Senate is rushing to vote on a bill that would mean you—yes, you—would have to start paying sales tax for your online purchases, but opponents warn that pushing the proposal through could create some severe side effects.

The legislation has been hustled to the Senate floor by its leadership to expedite action on the measure and send it to the House of Representatives.

Senate ramrods are so intent on passing the bill that they circumvented sending it to committee before floor action, as is the norm. (The fact that the legislation would have ended up in a committee chaired by a major opponent of the measure might have had something to do with the leadership’s move.)

If the measure makes it to President Obama’s desk as it’s written now, not only would consumers need to pay more out-of-pocket for online purchases, but opponents say the bill could open several other cans of worms, as well.

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