The House Revenue & Taxation Committee has spent another hour this morning asking questions about the streamlined sales tax bill, which would position Idaho to be able to tax Internet sales when Congress gives the go-ahead. Rep. Leon Smith, R-Twin Falls, moved to introduce the bill, which is co-sponsored by Reps. Jeff Nesset, R-Lewiston, House Tax Chairman Dennis Lake, R-Blackfoot, and Bill Killen, D-Boise. Rep. Lenore Barrett, R-Challis, made a substitute motion to return it to the sponsors, refusing to introduce it.

Barrett said, "It still offends me that if I buy something out of state and I bring it back, I gotta pay an Idaho tax. What did Idaho do to deserve that?" She added, "Congress should sit down and shut up. This is a state sovereignty issue."

Rep. Bob Schaefer, R-Nampa, said co-chaired a legislative committee on e-commerce with Sen. Hal Bunderson 10 years ago. "I couldn't swallow this then and I can't now," Schaefer said. "I see this streamlined sales tax as more government, at least 79 pages of more government. It's more complex, more complex tax law for the taxpayers." He said instead of this approach, he'd prefer to see the state target taxpayers who don't report and pay their taxes now on Internet purchase:  "Do some more audits and educate them, and get 'em to paying their fair share."