Conservative poll: Internet tax bill unpopular

A poll conducted for a pair of conservative groups finds most voters opposed to federal Internet sales tax legislation and suggests that lawmakers who vote for it could face attacks in the midterm elections.

The results of July surveys for the National Taxpayers Union and R Street show that 57 percent of “likely” voters oppose changing the system for how states collect sales taxes from Internet purchases. One-third support it. Mercury, the public affairs firm that conducted the poll for the groups that oppose the Marketplace Fairness Act, found that majorities of suburban voters, women and independents oppose the measure. In a separate poll specifically of Republican voters, 66 percent opposed changing the system.