Gov. Ron DeSantis quietly signed into law late Monday a bill that will cost Florida consumers who shop online an estimated $1 billion a year in sales taxes, with the money used to cut business taxes.

The governor’s office announced the decision at 11:23 p.m. Monday in an email that contained no comment. Early in the day, he traveled to Polk County to surround himself with law officers and publicly sign the controversial “anti-riot” bill (HB 1) that Democrats and civil rights activists contend is unconstitutional.

“Governor just signed a bill into law to increase your taxes and give the new revenue of $1 billion to businesses,” Rep. Anna Eskamani, D-Orlando, tweeted after the bill signing was announced.

Outnumbered Democrats in the Legislature had argued that working Floridians will be hurt by the proposal. The final package was approved 27-12 by the Senate and 93-24 in the House.

TreasonousBastard

(43,049 posts)

4. Sales tax-- of course. And the first one everyone will notice.

Reply to LetMyPeopleVote (Reply #2)

Wed Apr 21, 2021, 08:56 PM

Apr 2021

MichMan

(13,071 posts)

3. Sales tax on internet purchases same as 43 other states

Reply to LetMyPeopleVote (Original post)

Wed Apr 21, 2021, 08:52 PM

Apr 2021

Just getting on the same page as the rest of the country

hay rick

(8,188 posts)

5. Yes and no.

Reply to MichMan (Reply #3)

Wed Apr 21, 2021, 09:33 PM

Apr 2021

The bill extends the existing sales tax collection responsibility to companies that do more than $100,000 worth of business in Florida but don't have any physical facilities. Most of the money would be collected not by the sellers, but by platform companies like Amazon, Ebay, and Etsy. This, as you mention, brings them in line with 43 other states. The more controversial part of the bill, requiring cover of darkness, is that the proceeds would be directed to replenishing the state's depleted unemployment fund which is ordinarily funded by a payroll tax on employers. The money is effectively being transferred from consumers to businesses.

Loge23

(3,922 posts)

6. ...about that unemployment fund

Reply to hay rick (Reply #5)

Thu Apr 22, 2021, 12:22 PM

Apr 2021

Florida is at the bottom of all states in paying unemployment benefits - a MAX of $275/wk. Many workers in Florida, a notorious poor pay state, are below that $275.
If DeSatin and his radical right gang in the Florida House and Senate had their way, Florida wouldn't have a Unemployment program - other than forced labor.
I don't have an issue with collecting the sales tax, but I sure do have an issue with it going towards what amounts as a corporate bailout.
The Florida GOP is the closest thing we have in this country to the old Klan.

LetMyPeopleVote

(154,119 posts)

7. Is DeathSantis a vampire?

Reply to LetMyPeopleVote (Original post)

Thu Apr 22, 2021, 06:30 PM

Apr 2021

Link to tweet

Dreampuff

(778 posts)

8. Very interesting and I love how down-to-earth she is!

Reply to LetMyPeopleVote (Original post)

Fri Apr 23, 2021, 04:49 PM

Apr 2021

So when the Republicans said that President Obama signed the Affordable Care Act under the cover of darkness in the middle of the night, they were actually projecting because that is what they do? Considering the fact that he signed it in the middle of the afternoon in the Rose Garden in front of the press and many others.

Sorry I had to edit this. I didn't read down the line so I was just asking questions and the answers are right in this bread.

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