“iPod Tax” Goes Down
The JFC downloaded and deleted the so-called iPod tax, with two Democrats switching teams to vote against Gov. Doyle's proposal. The tax would have brought 3.2 million in collections to the state.
Rep. Scott Jensen, who dubbed it the iPod tax, said the measure, outlined in budget paper 326, is another example of a tax increase in the governor's budget. He said the tax would be impossible to enforce, and no one would keep track of their music downloads. “Do you know how many people you're going to turn into criminals?” he asked.
He said he received a letter opposing the tax from Apple Computers, the makers of the iPod, and also from local sheet music distributors who say their trade would be harmed by the Web-based tax.
Jensen said he was surprised by the attention the issue got, and said “Wisconsin was belittled for being a state that is taxing the future.”
The motion to stay with current law passed 13-2, with Dem Sens. Lena Taylor and Russ Decker siding with the Republicans.
