Xref: utzoo comp.sys.ibm.pc:34863 misc.legal:10879
Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!rutgers!apple!gem.mps.ohio-state.edu!ginosko!aplcen!haven!uvaarpa!mcnc!decvax!ima!esegue!johnl
From: johnl@esegue.segue.boston.ma.us (John R. Levine)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc,misc.legal
Subject: Re: MAIL ORDER IN IL is DEAD.
Summary: unconstitutional
Message-ID: <1989Sep17.174542.2657@esegue.segue.boston.ma.us>
Date: 17 Sep 89 17:45:42 GMT
References: <2495@cbnewsc.ATT.COM> <2110@crdgw1.crd.ge.com> <[2510da87:1282.14]comp.sys.ibm.pc;1@vpnet.UUCP>
Reply-To: johnl@esegue.segue.boston.ma.us (John R. Levine)
Followup-To: misc.legal
Organization: Segue Software, Cambridge MA
Lines: 27

In article <[2510da87:1282.14]comp.sys.ibm.pc;1@vpnet.UUCP> akcs.amparsonjr@vpnet.UUCP (Anthony M. Parson, Jr.) writes:
>A few responses ago, referring to the Constitution, a note was left that Con-
>gress has to approve interstate things, like taxes.  Is it so far fetched
>that Congress, with a quick wave of its mighty pen, WON'T approve such 
>a nationwide mail order tax.  ...

My copy of the Constitution says this:

Art I, Sec 9, Para 5.
	No tax or duty shall be laid on articles exported from any state.

Art I, Sec 10, Para 2.
	No state shall, without the consent of the Congress, lay any imposts
	or duties on imports or exports, except what may be absolutely
	necessary for executing its inspection laws; and the net produce of
	all duties and imposts, laid by any state on imports or exports, shall
	be for the use of the treasury of the United States; and all such laws
	shall be subject to the revision and control of the Congress.

That is, Illinois can't tax anything exported from the state, and all duties
go to the Federal government anyway.  It's rare to see a law that is so
patently unconstitutional.  I can hardly wait to see what the courts say
about it.
-- 
John R. Levine, Segue Software, POB 349, Cambridge MA 02238, +1 617 492 3869
johnl@esegue.segue.boston.ma.us, {ima|lotus}!esegue!johnl, Levine@YALE.edu
Massachusetts has 64 licensed drivers who are over 100 years old.  -The Globe