I Battalion N ATION ^ag^J^^Wednesda^^egtembei^^^QQ itiofiouse GOP warns against oasexpanding Internet taxes j: NNW at 12 ned winds: 140 lusts: 170 mph Tuesday, 8 p, ?ston ih te Beach BA Athni Om ^[EW YORK (AP)— House Pe lican leaders warned an Internet commission yesterday that the P-led Congress is in no mood to stpand taxes on electronic com- I rce, including sales taxes on pur- :| ises across state borders. B“Ihis idea is not a popular one in Ingress or among the American Jftple,” wrote three dozen GOP at makers in a letter to the Adviso- •I Commission on Electronic Com- rl rce, which is holding its second )J our meetings. Blhe 19-member panel of busi es and government officials was J ited by Congress last year to rec- d|intend future tax policy on Inter business and is supposed to fi- ize recommendations by April. 300 t'lHat same law imposed a three-year ILucratorium on new Internet taxes. J The GOP letter, signed by House from a fc Nority Leader Dick Armey and space center | at here 1 inton issued er declarations] orgia to enatii o begin as qi Majority Whip Tom DeLay, both of Texas, said many Republicans were troubled by indications that the pan el was examining “how to tax the In ternet, rather than whether to tax the Internet.” “An academic exercise on new ways to tax the internet is not productive../' — GOP letter to Advisory Commission on Electronic Commerce The lawmakers urged the panel to focus on international implications of U.S. tax decisions and on how American business might be affect ed by “complex and excessive state and local taxes on e-commerce. ” “You should also know that there are many members that will oppose any new taxes on the Internet,” the GOP letter said. “An academic exer cise on new ways to tax the Internet is not productive and does not reflect the intent of Congress in establish ing the commission.” Such a position puts the House Republicans at odds with state and local government officials, who fear growth in Internet commerce will siphon away sales tax and other rev enue needed for schools, roads, fire protection and law enforcement. “If state and local governments lose billions [of dollars], be assured county governments will have to in crease property taxes or income tax es to make up the difference — or cut essential community services,” Larry Naake, executive director of the National Association of Coun ties, said. 'ageant changes reconsidered i’ ls o o pj i a “ 1 JratesfspMsfj Miss America organizers to rethink qualifications ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (AP) — The head of the pss America pageant yesterday backed off plans to Bow women who have been divorced or pregnant io compete for the title, saying no final decision has n made. Robert L. Beck, CEO of the Miss America Organi- ig very, very Btion, said the pageant’s board of directors has 1 all just have #'eed to hold off implementing the changes pend- ir Robert Ear. inf! talks with state pageant operators, rom Frankfc Jrhe Associated Press reported Monday the ndustry trade pageant had decided to break with nearly 50 years automaker:: of tradition by striking provisions in the contestant al as a tempi; Tracts that require women to swear they have residentSie: aever been married and never been pregnant. ioth GMandpJi The state pageant officials are furious about the y name aE: Proposed changes and said the revisions would mar informati * e “high moral standards” the Miss America health-c; • **geant has stood for. inment f<‘«r Former Miss America winners, current contes- ) be amor' l a Ts and the former CEO of the pageant have lined y were du: up against the changes. “It’s just sad,” Jack Lawson, chair of the Miss Montana pageant, said. State pageant directors who asked not to be named yesterday said there would be defections by states from the Miss America program if the changes stand. “I don’t know what the outcome of the dialogue will be,” Beck said yesterday in his first public state ments about the controversy. Asked if there was a chance that the old rules will stand, he said: “That’s always a possibility.” The new rules, adopted at a June meeting of the board, would require contestants to swear that “I am unmarried” and “I am not the natural or adoptive parent of any child.” They would open the door to divorcees, women who have had abortions and women who have giv en birth to children who later died. The idea was to bring the contestant contract into compliance with New Jersey laws against discrimi nation, Beck said in an affidavit filed in court as part of the legal action. OPAS to do list* xercised the OPAS code (*23) when registering for fall classes. Received a ticket selection form from OPAS in the mail. Mailed or hand-delivered my completed ticket selection form to box office. Claimed my OPAS tickets! ,ut B If you can not check the line above, please visit the MSC OPAS office in room 223 of the Memorial Student Center. Better hurry! Seats to the 27th season are going fast. Your deadline to claim your OPAS tickets is September 20! 7999 r This ad is directed at students who bought their tickets to the 1999-2000 MSC OPAS season while registering for their fall classes. enlighten • entertain • inspire The Texas Aggie Yell leaders present A&M FOUNDATION present Bill Engvall Stand-up Comedian UVeekeml 'BlUicafi Cemefy Chart - American Comedy Award best/naU t hill emtla