Article 1, Section 9, Paragraphs 4-6
No Capitation, or other direct, Tax shall be laid, unless in Proportion to the Census or enumeration herein before directed to be taken.*
No Tax or Duty shall be laid on Articles exported from any State.
No Preference shall be given by any Regulation of Commerce or Revenue to the Ports of one State over those of another; nor shall Vessels bound to, or from, one State, be obliged to enter, clear, or pay Duties in another.
* An astericks indicates that the previous portion has been amended.
No State by State Port Tax
Transport is a huge boon to local services.
The Laws of the Government are to be fair to all. They are not to provide preferential treatment to any group or segment. Specifically the Federal Government is to make sure that certain ports do not have more authority than other ports.
Ports are not limited to only to ocean going ships. “Ports” is a general term meaning gate or opening to some area. This includes airports, ports of entry (inspection ports on major highways), railroad ports of entry, busing depots ports of entry, or any such ports.
The States have taken issue with the last portion of this clause, because of the costs incurred in providing roadways for goods to pass through their land. Trucks cause a lot of damage and maintenance issues to each State’s expenses, although the Federal Government pays for most of the costs of the Interstate Highway system through a myriad of taxation schemes. The frustration is that trucks and airplanes as well as buses and trains carry goods across their State and there is no direct revenue from this traffic.
Is this a valid argument? Actually, it is not. As goods move across their borders, there are many service industries as well as law enforcement dollars that are gained. The government gains a great deal of wealth in taxing (usually exorbitantly) the restaurants, hotels, vehicle repair services (supplemented by spot inspections as well as required stations), truck stops, fueling stations, etc. Not only does this traffic create many more jobs, with the resulting loot in taxes for the Government (on all levels), but it supports whole economies and industries.
The Amorites lost their country because they would not cooperate with the Israelites who wanted to pay to cross the Amorite territory. In negotiating, they mentioned the economic boon it would be to the Amorites, but instead of accepting it, the Amorites chose to fight Israel.
Numbers 21:21-22, "And Israel sent messengers unto Sihon king of the Amorites, saying, Let me pass through thy land: we will not turn into the fields, or into the vineyards; we will not drink of the waters of the well: but we will go along by the king’s high way, until we be past thy borders."
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