Pending Bills

1. H.R. 358: Protect Life Act- To amend the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to modify special rules relating to coverage of abortion services under such Act.
Status: This bill has passed the House and will next be voted on in the Senate

2. H.R. 1002: Wireless Tax Fairness Act of 2011-To restrict any State or local jurisdiction from imposing a new discriminatory tax on cell phone services, providers, or property.
Status: This bill has passed the House and will be going into the Senate.


3. H.R. 1299: Secure Border Act of 2011- To achieve operational control of and improve security at the international borders of the United States, and for other purposes.
Status: This bill was considered in committee which has recommended it be considered by the House as a whole.

I will now examine H.R. 1002: Wireless Tax Fairness Act of 2011 further.
Details Learned:

1. Congress finds it is appropriate to exercise congressional enforcement authority of the commerce clause, section 5 under the 14th Amendment in order to ensure that States do not discriminate against providers and consumers of mobile services by imposing new selective and excessive taxes on such providers and consumers.
2. The federal legislature finds congressional action is necessary to prohibit imposing new discriminatory 
3. taxes on providers and consumers of mobile services.
4. The term ‘mobile service’ means commercial mobile radio service, as such term is defined in the Code of Federal Regulations, or any other service that is intended for receipt on, transmission from, or use with a mobile telephone or other mobile device, including, but not limited to, the receipt of a digital good.
5. The Comptroller General of the United States shall conduct a study, throughout the 5-year period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act, to determine how and to what extent taxes imposed by local and State governments on mobile services, mobile service providers, or mobile property, impact the costs consumers pay for mobile services.

Questions:

1. If this becomes a bill/law, what are consequences of breaking it?
2. What is the purpose of the Gao Study of Section 5 of this bill?
3. How do States or Congress start implementing a new tax? (do they have to go through a process/get permission?)