Joe Manchin III on Technology Democratic Jr Senator; previously Governor

Supports infrastructure investment

Joe Manchin (D): Yes. Supports infrastructure investment.

Patrick Morrisey (R): Yes. Supports infrastructure investment.

Overturn FCC repeal of net neutrality

Joe Manchin (D): Yes. Voted to overturn FCC repeal of net neutrality.

Patrick Morrisey (R): Took no stand after Democratic legislators requested he support net neutrality.

States depend on federal government for key infrastructure

But Manchin said states depend on the federal government for key infrastructure like roads, water and sewage lines, and broadband Internet access. Without government, he said, poor, rural states would suffer. "The free enterprise system is not going to go there. They're only going to go where the market is," Manchin said. "And for all of us to have an opportunity there has to be a partnership. The federal government and state government should be your partner, not your provider."

80% of WV households now have broadband

• Since 2005, the state has awarded approximately $81 million in Small Cities Block Grants, leveraging approximately $177 million in state, local and federal funds.
• 80% of West Virginia households now have access to broadband internet, up from 58% in 2004. In February 2010, US Commerce Secretary announced that West Virginia will receive more than $125 million to provide middle mile infrastructure to build out to rural West Virginia, facilitating additional last mile connectivity.

Voted YES on authorizing states to collect Internet sales taxes.

Opponent's Argument for voting No (Cnet.com): Online retailers are objecting to S.743, saying it's unreasonable to expect small businesses to comply with the detailed--and sometimes conflicting--regulations of nearly 10,000 government tax collectors. S.743 caps years of lobbying by the National Retail Federation and the Retail Industry Leaders Association, which represent big box stores. President Obama also supports the bill.

Proponent's Argument for voting Yes: Sen. COLLINS. This bill rectifies a fundamental unfairness in our current system. Right now, Main Street businesses have to collect sales taxes on every transaction, but outbecause -of-state Internet sellers don't have to charge this tax, they enjoy a price advantage over the mom-and-pop businesses. This bill would allow States to collect sales taxes on Internet sales, thereby leveling the playing field with Main Street businesses. This bill does not authorize any new or higher tax, nor does it impose an Internet tax. It simply helps ensure that taxes already owed are paid.

Opponent's Argument for voting No: Sen. WYDEN: This bill takes a function that is now vested in government--State tax collection--and outsources that function to small online retailers. The proponents say it is not going to be hard for small businesses to handle this--via a lot of new computer software and the like. It is, in fact, not so simple. There are more than 5,000 taxing jurisdictions in our country. Some of them give very different treatment for products and services that are almost identical.