If the Supreme Court removes the protection of Quill then state politicians could impose taxes and regulations across state lines, taxing people who do not and cannot vote for or against those politicians
With the Supreme Court hearing oral arguments Tuesday in South Dakota v. Wayfair ATR president Grover Norquist issued the following statement:
“ATR opposes an online sales tax. An online sales tax would allow politicians to impose taxes and regulations across state borders. The people stuck dealing with these taxes and regulations would have no recourse at the ballot box.
Present law requires that a business have nexus, a physical presence, in a state before that state can tax it. If the Supreme Court reverses precedent and removes the protection of Quill then state politicians could impose taxes and regulations across state lines, taxing people who do not and cannot vote for or against those politicians.
Ending Quill to enable the taxation of internet sales would be to return to the taxation without representation enjoyed by King George of England. We fought a war to end that injustice. The Supreme Court should not reverse the decision of 1776.
An online sales tax would harm small businesses and consumers, but not Amazon. Amazon already collects sales tax nearly everywhere.
An online sales tax would entrench Amazon and big box stores and stop Mom and Pop competitors dead in their tracks.
In fact, an online sales tax would help Amazon because then they can sell tax collection services that would be forced onto their smaller competitors.”
ATR filed an amicus brief in the case here.