Advocacy

The Banned Books Week Coalition is offering new tools and resources to help booksellers prepare for this year’s celebration of the freedom to read, to be held September 23–29. 

Last week, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in favor of a South Dakota law qualifying remote retailers that have $100,000 or more in sales or 200-plus transactions in the state as having a physical presence.

In a major victory for sales tax fairness, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of South Dakota in a case that will redefine the legal obligation of online retailers regarding sales tax collection, South Dakota v. Wayfair, Overstock, and Newegg. 

The U.S. Department of Labor has released the final rule that will expand access to association health plans (AHPs). AHPs would allow small businesses to band together through a trade association to purchase health insurance across state lines.

The recent study Home Sweet Home: Locals vs. Amazon demonstrates the significant economic benefit that supporting independent businesses has on local communities.

Seattle’s city council has voted 7-2 to repeal a measure aimed at collecting tax from the city’s largest businesses, including Amazon and Starbucks, in order to raise funds for housing services.

The tax applies to companies that gross at least $20 million per year and will fund affordable housing and homeless services; since its proposal, Amazon — the city’s largest employer — has resisted the measure.

“Every day, attempts to hinder or to outright ban our right to free expression continue at an alarming pace in this country and around the globe. And in many ways, it is a death by a thousand paper cuts,” writes ABFE Director David Grogan.