click logo for homepage
 
 

	Vol.7, No 33, October 26, 1999
	Students meet to repeal textbook tax By Andres Cardenas Daily Forty-Niner Student representatives from local universities and community colleges met Friday to discuss ways to repeal the tax on textbooks required for university courses. Representatives from Cal State Long Beach, Cal State Fullerton, USC and Orange Coast College met at the Chancellor's Office to discuss the proposed bill to be presented to the California Legislature. "It was dynamic," Associated Students Inc. President Toby Sexton said. One of the questions brought up during the four-hour meeting was whether off-campus textbook retailers should be included with the on-campus vendors in the tax exemption. Sexton said the committee would look at the laws of other states that have the textbook tax repealed to resolve this issue. This would be the second time such legislation has been presented to the Legislature. During the 1997-98 session, Assemblyman Brooks Firestone, R-Santa Barbara, introduced a bill that would have given a 6 percent sales tax exemption for college textbooks. The bill was killed in the committee on Revenue and Taxation. According to the state Board of Equalization, the sales tax exemption would have meant a $36 million loss in revenue to the state. Sexton said he believes this proposed bill would be different since all four college entities ó community colleges, private colleges, and California State University and University of California campuses ó are working together on this project. "This is a student-developed idea and [students] are bringing it to the Legislature," Sexton said. As for sponsorship, Sexton said that Assemblyman Alan Lowenthal, D-34th district, has expressed interest in the subject. Sexton said he and other students will travel to Sacramento to speak with legislators. The student committee will meet again in a few weeks and begin to finalize the proposed bill.		Loved ones say goodbye to student Flower festival celebrates culture   Students meet to repeal textbook tax   A.S.I. consolidates various commissions   Freshman application deadline set   Muslim students regain access to prayer room   CSULB stars combat racism in local schools Call box for the deaf   A.S.I. president leads reform   Help in the lab Jambalaya poetry reading offers expression   Reviewer suggests 'The Shining,' 'Nightshift'   Coroner has light mood   Debate team grabs top spot in contest LBSU hockey team wins   Soccer team can't sweep   Team triumphs despite injuries Fall 99 ISSUES DAILY 49ER HOMEPAGE
Forty-Niner Publications, Department of Journalism, California State University, Long Beach ©1999 All rights reserved.