Internet tax splits field

Rare disagreement emerges among 6 GOP hopefuls for Senate.

The Republican race for an open U.S. Senate seat has so far been defined by the familiar ground of outsiders vs. insiders and a fight over which contender is more conservative than the next. But a schism emerged at a forum Monday over a tax debate that is one of the sharpest policy differences yet.

Six of the leading GOP hopefuls each vowed to reject calls to extend unemployment insurance and vote against a comprehensive immigration overhaul gelling in the Senate. Yet the rift erupted over a controversial Internet sales tax bill, and that’s noteworthy in a race largely defined by candidates who take the same positions on nearly every issue.

It involves pending legislation that would require Internet retailers to collect sales tax for state and local governments, and debate over the measure has divided tea party types and establishment Republicans. The Senate has already passed the measure, but anti-tax groups in the House have vowed to keep it from a vote.

U.S. Reps. Phil Gingrey, Jack Kingston and Paul Broun, along with former Georgia Secretary of State Karen Handel, all voiced opposition to the measure, rejecting it as a tax increase that should be considered only as part of a broader overhaul.

Kingston reinforced the view after the forum, saying “I do not support tax increases for the Internet. I do believe we need a comprehensive overhaul.”

David Perdue, a former Dollar General chief executive, took a sharply different tack.

“Being the only retailer up here, I can tell you I’ve seen both sides,” said Perdue, eliciting loud applause from a crowd of local officials at the forum hosted by the Georgia Municipal Association. “The federal government should make sure all players are playing on an equal playing field. We should have the same rules apply to both brick-and-mortar and online retailers.”

It was a rare sign of dissonance in a race dominated by the candidates’ struggles to distinguish themselves ahead of record-early May 20 primaries. The winner can expect a well-financed candidacy by Democrats eager to flip the seat held by retiring Republican U.S. Sen. Saxby Chambliss. Michelle Nunn, a nonprofit executive and daughter of former U.S. Sen. Sam Nunn, is her party’s leading contender.

With no clear GOP frontrunner, some candidates have

Candidates

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