It's rare these days that legislation flies through the U.S. Senate and gets bipartisan support in the House of Representatives -- but the Internet sales tax bill could do both.

Taxes on your flights are pretty hefty, and they might get heftier soon. But how do they compare to taxes for other services?

Tax breaks like the home mortgage deduction confer financial benefits, and some argue they're part of the government safety net.

So far, the companies have told us mostly good things this earnings season. But Allan Sloan, senior editor-at-large for Fortune magazine, isn't buying it. He says so-called "tax games" obscure business performance.