Irate over the iTax

January

Assembly Minority Leader Jim Tedisco, R-Schenectady, has launched an online campaign against a proposed tax on books, songs, albums and movies downloaded from the Internet. The Web site www.stoptheitax.com asks for people to join the cause and donate 99 cents, the price of a song, or more.

As part of his 2009-10 budget proposal last month, Gov. David Paterson recommended closing the “digital property taxation loophole.” Doing so means someone would pay the same tax online as they would in a store. A song on iTunes would cost $1.07, rather than 99 cents. Tedisco said he wants to stop the tax from becoming law in New York and elsewhere in the country.

“The iTax is on top of the Governor’s plans to tax us every time we drink soda or go to a movie or sporting event. Nice, huh???” the Web site says. (Paterson proposed 137 new or expanded taxes and fees, including on movies and sodas and beverages that have sugar.)

Supporters can buy anti-tax merchandise, join a discussion, listen to Tedisco’s YouTube message against the iTax or link to a Facebook page on the issue. (The Facebook page had 12 members as of 4:30 p.m.)

“Downloading music and content from iTunes and other digital services has become as American as apple pie. However, if the iTax passes, it’ll be the day the music died,” Tedisco said in a statement, referencing “American Pie” by Don McLean.

This entry was posted on Monday, January 5th, 2009 at 4:35 pm by Cara Matthews.
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One Response to “Irate over the iTax”

Reform Albany January 5th, 2009 at 8:57 pm
Mr. Tedisco—did you pay royalties to the Sinatra estate for using his song (or otherwise get their permission to use it)?

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