Virginia Senate votes to raise Virginians’ taxes

MoonHowler

Richmond Times Dispatch:

Legislation to eliminate a tax loophole that allows online businesses to not collect state sales taxes sailed through the Virginia Senate today.

The so-called “Amazon loophole” bill — Senate Bill 597, sponsored by Sen. Frank W. Wagner, R-Virginia Beach — cleared the chamber on a 34-6 vote and now heads to the House of Delegates.

The legislation was lobbied extensively by groups representing Virginia retailers who said the loophole gives online businesses a competitive advantage. In effect, it would require Internet businesses with bricks and mortar facilities in Virginia to collect the state’s five percent sales tax on their transactions.

Amazon has a warehouse and data center in Virginia and plans to open two distribution centers in the state under a deal struck with the administration of Gov. Bob McDonnell that provides more than $4 million in state aid. The state and Amazon are still in negotiations.

Is the Senate undercutting Governor McDonnell’s efforts with Amazon?  Do they not see this political move as  increasing the taxes of Virginians? 

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PWC Board of Supervisors for Sale to Highest Bidder

--NatashaHottie21--

Guest Post by Not Surprised

Disclaimer: The content of the guest contribution is the opinion of the guest and does not necessarily represent the opinion of the management of Moonhowlings.com.

 

The “News and Messenger” reported Tuesday that Prince William County Board of Supervisors Chairman Corey Stewart and another unnamed supervisor are “concerned” about a ruling of the Zoning Administrator.

 According to the N&M article, the Army has awarded a contract to the firm Spectrum, which is constructing a facility in an office park near Dumfries to provide healthcare services for members of the military and their families. Healthcare services for our men and women in uniform and their families, and additional facilities to serve the needs of the new military families relocating to Eastern Prince William County because of BRAC sounds like a good idea, doesn’t it? Not to everyone.

 A competing firm with facilities already located in the area, CRAssociates (CRA), is objecting on the basis that Spectrum will have a dispensary in its facility, which CRA characterizes as a retail pharmacy. Retail pharmacies are prohibited in the proffers for the office park where Spectrum is constructing its facility. The County Zoning Administrator has already ruled that Spectrum’s dispensary will be an allowed ancillary use at its facility and will not be a retail pharmacy, along the lines of a Rite-Aid or CVS. Thus, the facility Spectrum is constructing and plans to open next summer complies with County zoning and proffers for the area.

 So why are Chairman Stewart and another unnamed supervisor “concerned” about the Zoning Administrator’s ruling and going to bat for CRA?

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