The Marketplace Fairness Act is not Fair at all!

My open letter to Senator Pat Toomey and Senator Robert Casey, Jr. of Pennsylvania.

Dear Senators Pat Toomey and Senator Robert P. Casey, Jr.,

I am a resident of the Central Pennsylvania area and over the last couple years I have been considering reaching for the American dream and starting my own small business.  As I read the text in the Marketplace Fairness Act, or the Internet Sales Tax Mandate, I am reconsidering if that journey will be possible moving forward.

As you are aware the Marketplace Fairness Act would require me to collect sales tax at the time of purchase for any customer from any state.  That would require me to not only stay innovative in my products but would place a large amount of overhead and stress on me to stay on top of what the state and local sales tax rate is for every market across America even if I never sell a product in that market.

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That overhead and stress could force me to deny sales from non-Pennsylvania residents limiting my business growth and potential or figure out the taxes across the U.S. which would most likely require the consulting of someone else, which then takes more money out of my startup.  The worst case is I determine it’s not worth it and decide not to start my small business and not to reach for that American dream.

I believe it is important for the market to be fair and if a Wal-Mart is required to collect sales tax in every state they have a physical location then so should I.  A company like Wal-Mart already is established and has the assets to collect that tax even in state’s it has no presence (if there is one), my new company would not have those assets.

I propose a better way in ensuring Marketplace Fairness and allowing the state’s ultimate goal of collecting online Sales Tax while not placing this load on the new and current small businesses of America.

A requirement of merchants with profits greater than $100,000 and that have completed transactions for out of state residents provide an annual receipt to each customer of their transactions for the fiscal year.  It would then be the customer’s requirement to report that on their state and local taxes.  The majority of accounting tools already allow that ability for the customer online or for the merchant offline.

This would allow those new business creators a waiver on the requirement to grow, and it would reduce the overhead and stress already placed on the business and its creators.

I strongly believe that if the Marketplace Fairness Act were to pass as written and become law, we will see corporations and big businesses grow larger and more powerful, while placing new burdens on small businesses and those trying to reach the American dream.  Without those still trying to reach that dream the ability to succeed, we will never get to see these great companies of tomorrow or what the innovative people behind them can bring us.

I ask you to please vote no on the Marketplace Fairness Act, and consider legislation that benefits the American dreamers and not just those already living the dream.

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Last Updated on Monday, 06 May 2013 12:07

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The 2013 Pennsylvania Straw Poll Results

The 2013 Pennsylvania Straw Poll was conduced at the 24th annual Pennsylvania Leadership Conference on April 19 and 20.  The poll was open to any attendee of the event, and every attendee was provided with a unique 5 digit "Voter ID" printed on their name tag.  Polling ended at 9:15AM on April 20, and the results were announced during the Leadership Luncheon at the Conference.

Here are the results:

Pennsylvania Straw Poll Results 2013 by scottrdavis

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Last Updated on Saturday, 20 April 2013 17:26

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The Definition of Marriage, Marriage Equality

The Supreme Court yesterday started hearing a case on federal marriage laws, or marriage equality.  Reviewing more than a thousand laws and program rules where a person’s marital status is required at the federal level, and the thousands more likely affected at the state level.  The Supreme Court will decide the Constitutionality of those and the Defense of Marriage Act.

Why is this even being debated in our top Court?

America is known as the land of the FREE, which promotes the freedom of speech and the freedom to think and make decisions for yourself.  That means I have just as much a right to share my opinion on my stance as you have.  It also means every other American has a right to read both arguments, think, discuss and make a decision that is right for them.

I am personally a Heterosexual male and Christian.  I have some good friends who are not christian and some who are not Heterosexual.  We do have conversations and at times may debate different points, but in the end we respect each other’s right to form and hold their own opinion.  What works for me doesn’t have to work for them.

So, instead of debating how marriage is defined for everyone, lets go back to what made America the land of the free and let each and every American define marriage their way.  Instead of Single or Married, why not simply Beneficiary on all those government forms.

Please form your opinions and share them, listen to others and remember that we all have that same right to form our own opinion and none is more powerful then another.

It is time to abolish the Defense of Marriage Act and every law and rule that attempts to define marriage for every American.  The definition of marriage is simply “The unequivocal right of two adults to make a formal commitment to each other through their personal beliefs without any government interference”.

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Last Updated on Wednesday, 27 March 2013 12:07

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PLC Volunteers Needed

It's almost time for the Pennsylvania Leadership Conference, the largest state based conservative conference in the United States.  I am sponsor for the event and host the Pennsylvania Straw Poll, using the Straw Poll App.  With my sponsorship I receive tickets for eight volunteers for all of the events for both days of the conference.  

I am looking for a few more volunteers to help run the table and straw poll for both days.  The Straw Poll runs from 8:30 AM to about 8:00 PM (after dinner) on Friday and Saturday 6:30 AM to 9:00 AM.  During scheduled events we only need a couple people at the table so you can network and join the workshops or speakers you would like to hear.

If you are interested in volunteering please e-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with your name and contact information.

Thank You,

Scott R. Davis

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Last Updated on Friday, 08 March 2013 09:17

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The Stand With Rand Filibuster

At 11:47 AM on March 6th, Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky was given the floor of the US Senate for discussion regarding the nomination of John Brennan to be the next CIA director.  Senator Paul pledged to speak “until I can no longer speak” as he launched his first filibuster.

John Brennan’s nomination is being held due to the lack of transparency and refusal to answer the question on how drones would be used over American soil.  John Brennan spent 25 years at the CIA, where his opinions that justify the use of lethal drone strikes against terror suspects are being held by the White House. 

The question being asked is, will the administration carry out drone strikes against American citizens on American soil.  “The administration has not carried out, and has no intention of doing so” is the answer given by the administration.  Senator Paul stood his ground and said it doesn’t answer the question.

At one point, Senator Paul offered a non-binding resolution that would have stated the Senate’s stance of the use of drones on American soil to kill non-combatant American citizens would be considered unconstitutional.  Senator Dick Durbin, the Majority Whip objected and the filibuster continued.

By my count nine fellow senators have joined Senator Paul so far, in what is being coined ‘Stand With Rand’.  Senator Ron Wyden, the sole Democratic Senator and Pennsylvania’s own Senator Pat Toomey.  Texas stands alone as the only state where both Senators (John Cornyn and Ted Cruz) have spoke.

Ted Cruz made history by re-energizing Senator Paul by reading tweets on the Senate Floor of support for the citizens, which he repeated later in the night.

The bottom line is the request of information from the administration on the use of drones over American soil.  With the policies of the use of drones over International soil is copied here in America then we all should be concerned.

For now the filibuster continues, and every minute that goes on is another minute of inaction and unwillingness to work together from this administration.  The people on social media are uniting under Stand With Rand, and for once our elected officials are working for us.

update. The filibuster continued on until 12:40 EST or 12 hours and 52 minutes.  During that period Paul stated "No one politician should be allowed to judge the guilt, the charge an individual, to judge the guilt of an individual and to execute an individual.  It goes against everything that we fundamentally believe in our country".  

Despite ending the filibuster without an answer from the White House, Rand believes "I would be surprised if we didn't hear back from the White House".

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Follow along with some of the #StandWithRand Tweets

 

 

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Last Updated on Thursday, 07 March 2013 09:33

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Contact Me

Scott R. Davis
info{at}scottrdavis.com
(717) 884.9030

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(c) 2013 Scott R. Davis