First Govt Taxes on Internet Purchases, Could Paying Per Email be Next?

As Florida legislators are poised to add new taxes on Floridians, in the form of an Internet sales tax, could your email be next?

Thats the idea being considered in California, the mecca of bad ideas. A government official claims taxing email is simply an expansion of the Internet tax and could help fill state coffers. Gordon Wozniak also believes that government should consider collecting a fee for each byte of Internet data used, reports Fox News.

But, the smart fellows at the Cato Institute already called the idea what it is: "terrible."

"The government doesn't need any more tax money. That's not the problem. The American government is spending more than ever,"Chris Edwards, a Cato economist, told Fox.

What's starting all these conversations? Congresss 1998 ban on Internet taxation, the Internet Tax Freedom Act, is set to expire next year. Although, legislation has been filed to extend it.

LA Times columnist George Skelton is already running with the Internet tax idea, suggesting emails should be charged by the government like a letter you put in the mail. The idea of paying nearly 50 cents each time you hit the send button might make you rethink those quick one-liners.

Hopefully, Florida lawmakers will be appeased with taxes on Amazon and not catch on to the Golden States money grab.