When the Democratic-controlled legislature in Colorado pursued an Internet sales-tax collection plan, Amazon.com cut ties with affiliates in the state.

But state Rep. Max Tyler, D-Lakewood, has used his Internet investigative skills to claim that “we’re not really hurting these people.”

Phew. I feel better. Then again, I’m not an Internet affiliate marketer. If you are, his e-mail is repmaxtyler@gmail.com.

At the same event on Saturday, Tyler did linguistic backflips to avoid the phrase “tax increase.”