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	Vol.7, No 27, October 14, 1999
	Textbook tax may be tossed  By Jason Kosareff Daily Forty-Niner State legislation that would repeal all local and state sales taxes on college textbooks may be in the developing stages, said Associated Students Inc. President Toby Sexton, who last week appealed to local representatives for their support.  Sexton met Oct. 7 with state Sen. Betty Karnette, D-27th District, Assemblyman Alan Lowenthal, D-Long Beach, and Cal State Long Beach President Robert Maxson, to persuade them to sponsor the bill.  "They want to set the ball rolling," Sexton said.  The A.S.I., along with student governments at Cal State Fullerton and Orange Coast College, are researching the idea to determine its potential, Sexton said. "We need to make sure it is an idea that can pass," Lowenthal said. "It's an exciting idea." Maxson agreed. "I think it's a great idea," Maxson said. "It's a giant step forward for students and I support Toby 100 percent." Sexton said Karnette warned him that if the proposal made it to the Senate Revenue and Taxation Committee it probably would not see the light of day. Both houses of the state legislature have this committee, but Lowenthal said he feels the proposal would have a better chance of making it through the Assembly's committee, Sexton said. "Karnette sat on the committee so she knows it is tough to get a tax reduction or exemption out of that committee," Sexton said.  The average student pays $648 for books and instructional materials per year, according to a report from the California Post Secondary Education Commission.  The tax on those sales amounts to $36 million annually in sales on textbooks, the report said. The $36 million in revenue enters the state's general fund and is, therefore, not earmarked for any special program.  "Student debt is on the rise and financial aid is not commensurate to that rise," said Sexton.  "The legislature voted to lower student fees 5 percent last year and 5 percent this year, so they obviously care," said Maxson.  Businesses are allowed tax deductions on investments in capital and so should students when they invest in an education, Sexton said.  Missouri, Michigan, New York, Iowa and Maryland currently have legislation in the works that would eliminate or give students a tax credit on the state sales tax on textbooks, according to a report released in May by the National Association of College Stores.  Similar bills proposed in Connecticut and Maine were recently voted down. "No taxes are good," said senior Lisa Herkins, a liberal studies major. Kimberly Weir, also a senior liberal studies major, said she pays more than $600 a year on books. "I'd save over sixty dollars on books," she said.		Union Fees Mandatory   Textbook tax may be tossed   L.B. City Council affirms gun control measure   Service week to begin Too many babies   Holiday for those without maps   Open space wasted Car brings excitement to University Student Union   Compilation shows many qualities of Os Mutantes   Cage Rage   Latino Heritage Month highlighted on campus   Weberg's weekend video picks are full of fright   Soccer team will try for pair of victories   LBSU hopes to take control of Big West this weekend   Midnight rings in basketball madness Fall 99 ISSUES DAILY 49ER HOMEPAGE
Forty-Niner Publications, Department of Journalism, California State University, Long Beach ©1999 All rights reserved.