Officials Ask For Tougher Laws To Fight PC Counterfeiting

WASHINGTON (AllPolitics, March 31) -- Officials called Tuesday for the strengthening and updating of U.S. laws to help in the fight against counterfeiters using personal computers to reproduce currency. Computer-generated ink-jet counterfeiting made up 19 percent of all phony currency seized in fiscal 1997, an agent with the Secret Service Counterfeit Division told a House subcommittee. That is an 805 percent increase from 1995. Counterfeiters are increasingly using personal computers and avoiding offset printing. Ink-jet printers were used to make 43 percent of all fake currency seized domestically in the first five months of 1998. Despite the issuance of new $100 and $50 bills to prevent counterfeiting, criminals have been able to reproduce fakes that often slip past the general public, officials said.

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No More Licking, Just Clicking

WASHINGTON (AllPolitics, March 31) -- One hundred fifty-one years after the debut of postage stamps, Postmaster General Marvin Runyon on Tuesday unveiled the next generation stamp: an electronic one. Businesses and individuals may soon be able to print their own stamps using personal computers and the Internet. The new stamp would print out on a regular computer printer after customers pay a transaction fee to download the postage. The E-Stamp will also have an electronic barcode and a digital pattern, making it difficult to counterfeit.

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Internet Tax Moratorium Bill Proposed

WASHINGTON (AllPolitics, March 31) -- Sens. Judd Gregg (R-N.H.) and Joseph Lieberman (D-Conn.) introduced a bill Tuesday proposing a three-year moratorium on state or local taxes on the Internet or Internet-related activities. The bill does not grandfather existing taxes on Internet services. Some states have imposed Internet-related taxes already. State and local taxes imposed generally on all business would not prohibited if they also affect an Internet-related business. The taxes specified are income taxes, property taxes, business license taxes and sales or use taxes. The moratorium would expire on Dec. 31, 2001.

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Tuesday March 31, 1998

• Jones' Lawyers Willing To Delay Trial
• House OKs Disaster, Military Spending
• Gore Hammers His Way Into A New Half Century
• Banking Overhaul Falters In House
• Bella Abzug Dies At 77

Briefs:
• Tax News
• Tech Policy News