Noted political genius figures out new way to endear himself to New Yorkers
posted at 9:59 am on November 14, 2007 by Allahpundit
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Impeach him. We have all the pretext we need.
It’s time.
New Yorkers going Christmas shopping online at Amazon.com will find an 8.375% surprise at the virtual cash register, courtesy of Governor Spitzer, who is moving aggressively to collect Internet sales taxes that have gone widely unenforced…
When it comes to charging sales tax, e-retailers have been held to the same old standard that the U.S. Supreme Court set for mail-order vendors: The seller only needs to collect the tax on purchases in states where the vendor has a physical presence, such as a storefront or salesman. New York is saying that it has found a way around that obstacle to tax collection. Many e-retailers may have unwittingly lost their exemption because of the way they direct traffic to their Web sites, according to a tax memo recently released by the state’s tax department.
At issue is the “affiliate program” used by many e-retailers. Web site operators can provide a link to an e-retailer in return for a commission on any sale resulting from customers using the link. While the affiliate program may consist of little more than a non-descript advertisement on the computer screen, the tax consequences may be huge: New York state says it is the equivalent of having an instate salesperson…
Under this novel theory, any e-retailer who pays a New York-based Web site operator a commission would be required to start collecting sales taxes on any purchase from New York, regardless of whether it originated from an “affiliate.”
So Amazon will drop its affiliate program, leaving thousands of New Yorkers who count on their commissions for beer money pissed off and wanting to know what Spitz has against small businesses. Just tell me what I can do to help turn up the heat, Jeff Bezos. I’m here to serve.
Exit question: I guess this means I’m paying $65 for Assassin’s Creed instead of $60, huh? (Love you, Super Saver shipping!)
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Other than the Clintons, I’ve never seen any politician as visibly vindictive and sinister as Spitzer. You live in NY, right AP?? Jeez, I hate that mutt.
JiangxiDad on November 14, 2007 at 10:05 AM
“visibly vindictive and sinister”
Nicely said, Dad.
Jaibones on November 14, 2007 at 10:07 AM
Hard to say whether it’s the unending sneer or his politics, but I agree, JiangxiDad. There may be a soul in there, but again, it’s hard to say.
BillLalor on November 14, 2007 at 10:10 AM
one word…
rudy
he may not have been sinister…but visibly vindictive? absolutely
ernesto on November 14, 2007 at 10:10 AM
would agree with that completely. point him east if you choose him.
JiangxiDad on November 14, 2007 at 10:12 AM
Thanks for the link, AP.
That tax grab reminds me of when Mario Cuomo’s henchmen would visit the nearby New Jersey malls to photograph NY license plates.
The nerve of people trying to avoid onerous taxation.
JammieWearingFool on November 14, 2007 at 10:13 AM
Assassin’s Creed is going to rock.
Leonidas Hoplite on November 14, 2007 at 10:15 AM
It made the local news 20-25 years ago when New York State was sending agents across the border to Pennsylvania to drive around the parking lot of our largish mall and take down New York State license numbers at Christmas time.
Apparently the state would then send out reminders that just because Pennsylvania didn’t collect sales tax on clothes, NY residents still owed New York for whatever they purchased.
Big Spitzer is watching you.
saint kansas on November 14, 2007 at 10:17 AM
Hey Spitzer, you schmuck, here’s a nice money grabbing idea for you:
Tax the illegals.
Always Right on November 14, 2007 at 10:18 AM
Hey, it’s JammieWearingFool of Rush Limbaugh fame! And William Amos of Fox and Friends fame!
Maybe the gals on the View will namecheck me next… pleaseohplease
saint kansas on November 14, 2007 at 10:19 AM
Yup!
FireFly on November 14, 2007 at 10:19 AM
They can’t keep there hands off any money…greedy bastards.
What happened to “no taxation, without representation”, I’m in NC, he doesn’t represent me.
right2bright on November 14, 2007 at 10:22 AM
oh my gosh do the Assassin’s Creed commercials look sweet. I haven’t seen one that shows any actual game play, but I can only hope it’s just as awesome.
BadgerHawk on November 14, 2007 at 10:23 AM
Dude.
What he said.
Labamigo on November 14, 2007 at 10:28 AM
Nah. Not “visibly” vindictive. You may know more about the vindictive part, but not visibly. He smiles.
Show me Darth Spitzer smiling when he’s not announcing a tax increase.
Jaibones on November 14, 2007 at 10:30 AM
AP,
You are always on the internets how do find time for a video game?
terryannonline on November 14, 2007 at 10:30 AM
Every warning sign was there when he was, by far, the most arrogant, above-the-law AG in the nation. Yet the Republican Party in this state still couldn’t even put up a fight.
sweeper on November 14, 2007 at 10:31 AM
That is insane! Is it even legal? Glad I live in the mid-west where sanity (usually) reigns.
srhoades on November 14, 2007 at 10:32 AM
Was that ever fought in a court of law? Surely that move was illegal?
Pulchritudinous Patriot on November 14, 2007 at 10:32 AM
I did the best I could. I’m just one guy.
JiangxiDad on November 14, 2007 at 10:33 AM
Poor Eliott,
He’s trying to pull the Clintonian tactic of distracting from the licenses for illegals debacle by changing the subject. The only problem is that it appears he has managed to get the electorate even more riled up. Can somebody’s polling numbers go into negative percent? ;-0
highhopes on November 14, 2007 at 10:35 AM
I tried also, but I had to look up the Rep nominee because I already forgot his name (John Faso). It is a sad day when one looks at that crook Joe Bruno and his family as the Republican Gate Keeper.
sweeper on November 14, 2007 at 10:41 AM
So much entitlement, so few taxes.
Hening on November 14, 2007 at 10:43 AM
I don’t know whatever became of that, but JWF says they were doing it in New Jersey too. All I remember is that you were supposedly sent a note reminding you that you owed tax on whatever you purchased and brought back into NYS.
This was in Northwest PA, south of Buffalo. Who knows how many state employees they had doing this.
saint kansas on November 14, 2007 at 10:43 AM
And people ask me why I avoid traveling to the Northeast, West Coast and Illinois.
deepdiver on November 14, 2007 at 10:47 AM
It’s exactly the sort of move you’d expect from a money hungry Northeast Liberal politician who is grinding his State into the ground. They kill the economic viability of their States and are forced into bastardizing laws to squeeze every nickel from their populations in order to keep their political machines financed. People of NY will wake up, just like we did here are one point in MA, and take control away from these thieves.
TheBigOldDog on November 14, 2007 at 10:48 AM
You better be very powerful in order to take on a DOR. That’s a battle an individual will find difficult to win because they will abuse their power and grind you into the ground.
The other thing to keep in mind is the deterrent affect having the government photograph your car has on your visiting malls in nearby states.
TheBigOldDog on November 14, 2007 at 10:51 AM
After having been up til 3:30 last night running around in it, I feel confident in saying: don’t worry about that. Definitely worth it.
RyanOH on November 14, 2007 at 10:52 AM
I completely agree that these last two Spitzer moves of licenses and Amazon.com taxes are ridiculous, and ultimately, could cost him re-election.
That being said, he did a number of good things as AG when the federal government sat on their fat butts while the mutual fund industry became a cesspool of corruption. The fact that the mutual fund industry is better regulated is a good thing, I think. And he seemed to be the only one doing anything about it.
asc85 on November 14, 2007 at 10:52 AM
Only when it reaches a tipping point where average people are on the verge of revolt. Otherwise, all that money pays for lots of hack jobs. That, combined with the unions, buys you just about every election. It works to perfection here in MA and has for decades.
TheBigOldDog on November 14, 2007 at 10:55 AM
PS - and special interest groups (how could I forgot the third leg of the unholy triumvirate?)
TheBigOldDog on November 14, 2007 at 10:59 AM
Government Jobs + Unions + Special Interests = Liberal Power
TheBigOldDog on November 14, 2007 at 11:01 AM
Just like here in taxefornia.
Speakup on November 14, 2007 at 11:01 AM
I have to disagree with you there. He used “creative” interpetation of the law, and than bullied anybody who dared defend themselves. He threatened to “ruin” people who did not cooperate.
Once scum, always scum.
sweeper on November 14, 2007 at 11:05 AM
Wait, so does this mean I’ll only get taxed if I go through an Amazon affiliate with a New York presence? What if I just go directly to Amazon.com?
God, what is with these craven Democrats and their incessant need to jam their hands into my pockets and not even give me a handy while their in there?
Kensington on November 14, 2007 at 11:23 AM
I would also like to point out that he ruined the career of the pres. of A.I.G. who was made to resign under an Elliot Spitzer investigation. Then, just as the election drew near, Spitzer dropped his claim against A.I.G.
Spitzer is an absolute horror and the sales tax on internet purchases is just his second volley over the bow to complete destruction of our state. We would be gone from here by now if every other house on our block weren’t already up for sale.
Babs on November 14, 2007 at 11:23 AM
One big happy Rightwing Noise Machine.
JammieWearingFool on November 14, 2007 at 11:24 AM
On the Mario Cuomo thing, they backed off on that once Bob Grant made a stink about it.
Democrats tend to run for the tall grass when their police state tactics are exposed.
JammieWearingFool on November 14, 2007 at 11:28 AM
So how about when you are on vacation? Go out to eat dinner in Hoboken? Spend the summer at the jersey shore?
peacenprosperity on November 14, 2007 at 11:32 AM
Weasely lawmaking at it’s
bestworst.Ortzinator on November 14, 2007 at 11:33 AM
I’m looking at the new Resident Evil game for the Wii for my next game buy. I’ll have to check the ratings.
Bad Candy on November 14, 2007 at 11:34 AM
Wait, you got quoted by Rush? When?
Bad Candy on November 14, 2007 at 11:36 AM
Sounds like Spitzer’s mission in life is to piss people off.
infidel4life on November 14, 2007 at 11:38 AM
Its time for him to go.
Iblis on November 14, 2007 at 11:40 AM
I honestly believe that Eliot Spitzer was teased and picked on as a young kid at school… more than likely because kids would make fun of his name or his budding nerdishness. And so now, he’s acting out — exacting his revenge on bullies everywhere. He’s a dope.
D2Boston on November 14, 2007 at 11:46 AM
One of the radio news announcers up here (Rochester, NY) has taken to calling him “Governor Steamroller” during drive-time news. I wish I could laugh, but I live here.
At least my county (Monroe) fought him on Driver’s Licenses for Illegals.
ITmonkey on November 14, 2007 at 11:47 AM
He’s trying to collect compensating use tax on items. That’s the principle that Cuomo tried all those years ago to get folks to give NYS taxes owed on out-of-state purchases.
lawhawk on November 14, 2007 at 11:57 AM
I’m holdin’ out for mass effect.
lorien1973 on November 14, 2007 at 12:02 PM
Laugh IT! You’ve got to! It can’t be worse than down here.
I live in New Orleans. My Congressman got caught with $90K of the FBI’s money in his freezer. My Mayor is complete idiot that recently said that all the murders (170+ this year) was good at keeping the New Orleans “brand” in the media. The City DA just resigned after unsuccessfully prosecuting just two murders since August 2005. The City Attorney was harboring a fugitive in his home. My Governor is so incompetent that she didn’t even dare run for a second term (a Democrat party fundraiser auction netted a buck with the offer of dinner her).
Hope that helps but your idiot governor in some perspective!
highhopes on November 14, 2007 at 12:02 PM
Its unenforceable. It’d cost more to audit everyone that’d you’d get out of them. The only way the stat makes money off use tax is to go after the big businesses. Going after individuals/small businesses is a net loss.
lorien1973 on November 14, 2007 at 12:03 PM
“The Sfachim”, or “il Supremo.”!
JiangxiDad on November 14, 2007 at 12:03 PM
It’s so pathetic, you gotta laugh. Yesterday, I called NY the Louisiana of the North. Guess I was almost right.
JiangxiDad on November 14, 2007 at 12:05 PM
Behold the symmetry and beauty of both of the smartest people in politics being from New York and the same party, and taking turns planting landmines for each other to step on. The universe is unfolding as it should.
drunyan8315 on November 14, 2007 at 12:14 PM
Rush said Spitzer had to pull it today so that Shrillary won’t be asked about it tomorrow night.
(Also, sneakiest is Schmukie. He walks away unscathed.)
JiangxiDad on November 14, 2007 at 12:21 PM
Not exactly.
MA (and NY I think) ran a sting on Internet cigarette sellers. They somehow managed to get minors to make purchases. Then they threatened to jail the operators unless they turned over their customer lists and orders. They then sent tax bills out to every customer in their States for every order they placed plus interest and penalties. There were stories about people who were buying cigarettes for their friends at work, and were bankrupted when they received a tax bill, due upon receipt for tens of thousands for cigarettes they never consumed.
In short, they are doing this because they’ve done it before and it worked.
TheBigOldDog on November 14, 2007 at 12:52 PM
Back in early October. Scroll down to Story #3 here. In relation to this.
JammieWearingFool on November 14, 2007 at 12:53 PM
Sniff. Well, I guess it’s good for those who aren’t Prime.
/snotty
(Trust me, if you lived where I did, you’d need Prime.)
MamaAJ on November 14, 2007 at 12:57 PM
Did you know that every taxpaying New Yorker (that excludes Governor Spit’s illegal constituents) is forced to declare on the Income (Franchise) Tax Form any out of state purchase so that New York can pick up the difference between the (always less) out of state sales tax and the (always more) NY Sales (Use) Tax. Nobody declares but you can be sure Governor Spit will enforce state audits of individuals.
Did you know that whenever a Liberal loses in the public opinion polls (75% New Yorkers against illegal alien driver’s licenses) they use the judicial system to over-ride democracy. Here you need only 2, 3, 7 or at most, 9 votes. Look for some judicial “decision” allowing illegals driver licenses. Thanks Governor Spit (it rhymes with manure.)
MaiDee on November 14, 2007 at 1:52 PM
Heh. Welcome to the party, folks. Yes, that’s coming from a smoker - a member of one of the first groups to be targetted by Eliot Spitzer because he smelled money to be taken.
Oh, but wait! He was just going after those eeeeevil tobacco companies. Reminder, the tobacco farmers grow tobacco, the tobacco companies do not grow money. It came from somewhere. As in the cost of a pack of smokes.
Oh, but smoking is evil, vile, disgusting and dirty! Not like my online shopping, dammit!
*sigh*
First they came for the Jews, and I said nothing….
Wind Rider on November 14, 2007 at 2:06 PM
SOOooooOOoo not fair that you have yours already!!!! I can’t wait to pick up my copy of Assasin’s Creed tonight after work. Then?!? All bets are off, and if I get REALLY good at it, maybe I’ll take a little trip to Jerusalem and start kicking some religious ideological ass!!
Califemme on November 14, 2007 at 2:16 PM
When they come for you, I’ll scream so they all KNOW they are next :)
Been a while since I’ve heard that line!
Califemme on November 14, 2007 at 2:18 PM
I bet you New Yorkers are missing Governor Pataki right now.
SoulGlo on November 14, 2007 at 3:42 PM