Recently Congress has been considering whether or not to tax internet purchases. Although I dislike paying taxes as much as the next person, I believe internet purchases should be taxed. It is a matter of fairness.

Why should the local brick and mortar stores act like showrooms for internet companies that don’t have any of those expenses? Why should we be supporting the economies of New York or California when local businesses are struggling to get by and our neighbors are losing their jobs?

I teach in Alaska nine months a year and come home to western Pennsylvania to spend my summers. I have little choice but to do virtually all my shopping via the internet. I clearly benefit from not having to pay sales taxes when I shop online.

But the day will come when I am able to move back to Pennsylvania full time. And when that day comes, I want to be able to shop locally. A bill to require businesses to pay sales tax on internet purchases will help to ensure that I will be able to do so.