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Urban Economic Policy
June 26, 2000 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.     
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