The Democratic proponents of the latest scheme to tax internet sales to buyers in Colorado tout the bill as working in lockstep with the federal government to implement this burden on middle class families.  That’s news to federal legislators.

Looking at the Colorado House Democrat website, one would think they’ve been passing all sorts of legislation to help small business.  False.  The headlines read “Leveling the Playing Field for CO Small Businesses” and “Helping Colorado Small Businesses and Jobs”.  These headlines all refer to HB13-1295, introduced by Democratic Speaker Mark Ferrandino, to tax internet sales. According to the House Democrats’ press release on the topic:

“SB13-200 would set up the Colorado framework for the federal Marketplace Fairness Act, which passed another procedural test in the U.S. Senate today and is given a fair chance of passing Congress this year.”

That’s funny because Republican U.S. Rep. Cory Gardner had this to say about the measure:

“There’s no appetite for it [in the House].  I don’t think there is enough support even among co-sponsors of the bill.”

Gardner also expressed concern about the legislation’s burden on start-ups:
“It’s a sure way to stifle innovation.  You shouldn’t be taxing something that I think should be allowed to grow.”
While Ferrandino wants to pitch this pile of steaming taxes to Coloradans as “fair to brick and mortar” stores, the real winner here are government bureaucrats who have more money to spend.  The loser?  Colorado consumers, of course.