The Urban Economic Policy Committee met on June 10. The
meeting was chaired by Trenton Mayor Douglas Palmer in the absence of the
committee chairman, Dallas Mayor Kirk. The committee considered six
resolutions which are summarized below:
Resolution #52 Urging Opposition to the Advisory
Commission Majority Members’ report to Congress on Electronic Commerce
urges Congress to reject a report submitted by the majority members of the
Advisory Commission that did not receive the broad support (2/3 of the 19
members) required by law. It also urges Congress oppose legislation
containing recommendations from the report that would adversely affect
cities. These include:
• a five-year extension of the moratorium on Internet
taxes.
• a five-year moratorium on taxing digitized goods and
similar items sold over-the-counter.
• new loopholes that would free more companies from
obligations to collect state and local sales taxes.
• the elimination of the local option sales tax on remote
sales.
• and changes that would reduce state and local taxes on
telecommunications providers at the expense of taxpayers.
This resolution also urges Congress to pass legislation
that will enable states to participate in a multi-state compact to
streamline and simplify their sales and use taxes. Congress is further
urged to authorize such states to require out-of-state merchants to
collect and remit their taxes.
Resolution #53 Urging Support for Internet and E-Commerce
Privacy Protection urges support for federal, state and local efforts
to enact fair consumer protective legislation which balances the
information needs of companies and government with the protection of
individual rights.
Resolution #54 Urging Support for Expeditious
Revitalization of Closed Military Bases urges the Administration and
Congress to fully fund the Base Closure and Realignment Act to expedite
the clean up bases to a level that permits the full implementation of
community reuse plans.
Resolution #55 Urging Support for the State and Local
Government Economic Empowerment Act reaffirms Conference policy which
urges support for interest-free loans to assist states and municipalities
in addressing their infrastructure needs, and urges members of Congress to
support the enactment of the State and Local Economic Empowerment
Act.
Resolution #56 Urging Support for Direct Deposit and
Direct Payment Methods urges state and local governments, businesses,
organizations and consumers to use direct payment and deposit methods to
assist the Federal Reserve System in promoting a safer, more efficient,
more flexible monetary and financial system.
Resolution #57 Urges Support for Local Authority to Lower
the American Flag to Half-Staff urges Congress to amend the Federal
Flag Code to authorize Mayors to order the lowering of U.S. flags to
half-staff on public property to honor the death of local public safety
officers and other deserving public servants.