NRH Lobbying to Levy Sales Taxes on Internet Sales!

by Ron West

        Without any noted discussion, the North Richland Hills City Council approved a plan to lobby for legislation to impose sales taxes on all internet sales.  The "legislative agenda for 2006" was presented by a city staff person and several items were approved for the agenda.  The "sales tax" is one more way to wring money out of buyers who buy anything on the internet.  This would impact purchases from Amazon, E Bay and any internet source you might want to buy from.  Without such legislation, the council's apparent position is that such vendors enjoy an advantage over local merchants and even more importantly, goods and services are coming into the city without the city getting taxes for them.

    This "legislative agenda" was approved by a 7 to 0 vote of the council and no hearings were held to see if the "agenda" garnered local voter support.  It was simply the enactment of the wishes of Cunningham, Trevino and city staff.

    The following information is the actual minutes of the "work session" regarding this agenda and the following actual minutes of the NRH City Council.  Note the complete lack of discussion - just a rubber stamp approval.

    While I have not searched for it yet, rest assured that this approval carries with it, an approval for spending money to pay lobbyists to seek approval of the issues listed.

    Trevino & company never saw a tax source that wasn't enticing to them.

From February 13th Minutes of NRH City Council Agenda

Minutes from the work session on this date:

Minutes of the actual council session for this date where the program was approved.

Motion to Approve Carried 7 to 0