[EL] eBay grassroots lobbying

[Doug Hess]

I just got the email below. (I must have purchased something eBay
years ago. Maybe a hand-knitted teapot cozy?)

I'm wondering: How is this sort of mobilization counted for in
corporate taxes? If it is counted, what amount do you think they would
put on this? Sending email is nearly free at the margin for a large
list but database costs, staff time are not. Costs aside, it is an
interesting example of how consumers can turn into mobilization
targets, an advantage that only large organizations would have.

-Doug
-----

Dear Douglas,

Congress is considering online sales tax legislation that is
wrongheaded and unfair, and I am writing to ask for your help in
telling Congress "No!" to new sales taxes and burdens for small
businesses.

Whether you're a consumer who loves the incredible selection and value
that small businesses provide online, or a small-business seller who
relies on the Internet for your livelihood, this legislation
potentially affects you. For consumers, it means more money out of
your pocket when you shop online from your favorite seller or small
business shop owner. For small business sellers, it means you would be
required to collect sales taxes nationwide from the more than 9,600
tax jurisdictions across the U.S. You also would face the prospect of
being audited by out-of-state tax collectors. That's just wrong, and
an unnecessary burden on you.

Big national retailers are aggressively lobbying Congress to pass
online sales tax legislation to "level the playing field" with Amazon.
And, as they compete with big retail, Amazon is advocating for this
legislation too, while at the same time they are seeking local tax
exemptions across the country to build warehouses. This is a "big
retail battle" in which small businesses and consumers have a lot to
lose. But eBay is fighting, as we have for more than 15 years, to
protect small online businesses and sellers and ensure healthy
competition, value, and selection that benefit consumers online.

The solution is simple: if Congress passes online sales tax
legislation, we believe small businesses with less than 50 employees
or less than $10 million in annual out-of-state sales should be exempt
from the burden of collecting sales taxes nationwide. To put that in
perspective, Amazon does more than $10 million in sales every 90
minutes. So we believe this is a reasonable exemption to protect small
online businesses. That's what we're fighting for, and what big
companies such as Amazon are fighting against.

I hope you agree that imposing unnecessary tax burdens on small online
businesses is a bad idea. Join us in letting your Members of Congress
know they should protect small online businesses, not potentially put
them out of business. Click here to make your voice heard. Together, I
believe our voices can make a difference.

Sincerely,

John Donahoe
President and CEO
eBay Inc.