Bill legalizes travel sites' tax evasion

Floridians caught cheating on their taxes don't expect government to look the other way. But that is exactly what 77 members of the Florida House agreed to do this week for out-of-state travel service companies that evade paying all the sales taxes they owe. Now it's up to the Florida Senate to stand for fairness for all Floridians and refuse to go along.

The House embrace of HB 493 on Monday would legalize the tax evasion that companies like Expedia and Travelocity have practiced for years. Contrary to advice from their own lawyers and accountants, the companies have paid sales tax only on the wholesale price of a hotel room — not the retail price as customers do who book directly with a hotel. That has cost local governments an estimated $30 million to $40 million a year in revenue, further shifting costs to businesses and residents who play by the rules.

Six Tampa Bay area lawmakers understood that and bravely voted against the plan: Republicans Jim Frishe of St. Petersburg and Ed Hooper of Clearwater, and Democrats Janet Cruz of Tampa, Rick Kriseman of St. Petersburg, Betty Reed of Tampa and Darryl Rouson of St. Petersburg.

But many more sided with tax cheats: Republicans Larry Ahern of Seminole, Jeff Brandes of St. Petersburg, Rachel Burgin of Riverview, Richard Corcoran of New Port Richey, Rich Glorioso of Plant City, James W. Grant of Tampa, Shawn Harrison of Tampa, Seth McKeel of Lakeland, Peter Nehr of Tarpon Springs, Rob Schenck of Spring Hill, Jimmie Smith of Inverness, Greg Steube of Bradenton, Will Weatherford of Wesley Chapel and Dana Young of Tampa.

Now Floridians' only hope is that the Senate is not nearly so complicit in legalizing tax evasion.