Hello Dear Friends and White Knights, Today I called several offices in the US Senate to see what was happening with HR3678 which was passed in the House of Representatives this month and provides a 4-year extension of the ban on taxing the Internet. The House resoundingly voted 405 out of 435 Representatives to continue banning taxes on Internet Service.

Then HR3678 went to the US Senate where it would normally sit in the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation which is chaired by Senator Daniel Inouye from Hawaii.

I called Senator Inouye’s office this afternoon and his aid said that Senator Inouye decided NOT to have HR3678 considered by his committee. Instead, bill HR3678 was referred to the US Senate floor to be discussed and voted on. This is a small bit of good news because the bill could have gotten bogged down in the Senate Committee and NEVER be voted on by the entire Senate. If it is not voted on by or on October 31, 2007, then the DOORS to TAX internet usage are WIDE OPEN!

I did confirm in the online bill tracking that HR3678 has been referred to the Senate Floor for discussion and voting, however, there was NO DATE for the vote scheduled. http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=h110-3678

I asked WHO controls the Senate calendar and the DATE on which HR3678 will be voted. I was eventually referred to US Senator Harry Reid from Nevada who is the Senate Majority Leader. I understand most Senators are in favor of continuing the ban on taxing the internet and all it needs is the opportunity to be voted upon in the Senate.

I then called Senator Harry Reid’s office to find out the DATE scheduled for the vote on HR3678 to extend the ban on taxing the internet. His Aide said there was “no date scheduled.” I said we don’t have much time to vote on this – just a few days left. She said they actually do not schedule dates to vote on issues very much in advance.

This is not true. There have been dates announced for voting on many bills and the mainstream news media often reports these future dates.

It’s TIME to pick up the telephone and CALL Senator Reid’s office and to urge him to put HR3678 on the Senate voting schedule and get it voted on by October 31, 2007. Call his number TOMORROW or ASAP before 10/31/07 between 9a.m. and 5p.m. - 202-224-3542.

A few, NOT MOST, Democrats WANT the ban on Internet taxes to expire so they can force a NEW TAX on all of us. Senator Reid is the Democratic Leader of the Senate. I told everyone to whom I spoke that we are already “taxed to death” and we do not want this NEW TAX on our backs.

We can get HR3678 voted on by the Senate before November 1 if we each give Senator Reid a call and tell him to bring it to vote immediately. Senator Reid’s telephone number is 202-224-3542 – call him tomorrow October 25, 2007 or ASAP and tell him to bring bill HR3678 to vote immediately because you do NOT want a tax on the Internet. Your call can ensure the ban does not expire on November 1, 2007.

Also, you need to know that NO ONE IS GOING TO THREATEN YOU FOR SPEAKING UP. Congress is made up of 535 politicians who do NOT want you getting mad at them. The politicians are worried about what YOU THINK and they do NOT want you upset with them – especially on an issue that affects millions of Americans.

TOMORROW – October 25 - or ASAP pick up your telephone and call 202-224-3542 during Eastern time zone business hours 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tell Senator Reid to bring HR3678 up for vote immediately because you do NOT want a tax on the Internet!

Another number you can call is the US Senate Democratic Communications office at 202-224-2939. Call tomorrow or as soon as you can prior to November 1, 2007.

You may also call your own two US Senators and urge them to make sure HR3678 is approved by the US Senate in the next 7 days!

To find your two Senators, go to http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm

Make YOUR CALLS ASAP – we need to continue the ban on taxing the Internet. Some of you may not be able to afford Internet service if taxes are allowed.