Advocacy

In this commentary from the op-ed page of the Minneapolis Star Tribune, the Institute for Local Self-Reliance explains why the news that Amazon wants to expand its footprint in Minnesota — but only if it wins significant public subsidies — should put taxpayers and public officials on high alert.

The American Booksellers for Free Expression has joined the National Coalition Against Censorship, the Association of American Publishers, and others in reaffirming their support for Charlie Hebdo. In recent days, prominent American literary figures have criticized the French satirical magazine for cartoons that they believe are anti-Muslim.

On Tuesday, the Louisiana House Ways & Means Committee held a hearing on affiliate nexus bills that would require remote retailers to collect and remit sales tax in the state. Testifying in support of the bills was ABA member Tom Lowenburg of Octavia Books.

As a supporting cosponsor of National Small Business Week, this May 4 – 8, ABA presents a column by Maria Contreras-Sweet, administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration, on the event’s many offerings.

ABA is urging booksellers to follow up a letter sent by B&N CEO Michael P. Huseby and ABA CEO Oren Teicher to Ohio Gov. John Kasich with their own letters calling for an e-fairness solution in the state.

The success of Young Adult books has a lot of people celebrating, but it has outraged others. To draw attention to the growing number of challenges to YA titles, the sponsors of Banned Books Week have chosen to make YA books the focus of this year’s celebration.

Tickets are on sale now for the Annual Children’s Book Art Auction and Reception at BEA. The event, which this year honors author Judy Blume, will auction off hundreds of works of art donated by some of the top artists and illustrators working in the book industry today.

This week, ABA CEO Oren Teicher and B&N CEO Michael P. Huseby sent a letter to Ohio Gov. John Kasich calling for a state sales tax fairness solution.

With the outlook on federal sales tax fairness unclear, a Washington State lawmaker has introduced legislation that he believes could lead the U.S. Supreme Court to re-evaluate nexus in states.

Chris Finan, director of the American Booksellers for Free Expression, shares his own thoughts and opinions on the book Guantanamo Diary and the important debate it can stir about whether torture is ever justified.

The June 1 deadline for reauthorizing the Patriot Act got a lot of attention last Sunday night when comedian John Oliver, the host of HBO’s Last Week Tonight, extended his show to accommodate a 33-minute discussion of the law that included an interview with National Security Agency whistleblower Edward Snowden.

A complaint from a parent in Wallingford, Connecticut, has prompted the district’s superintendent of schools to remove Stephen Chbosky’s The Perks of Being a Wallflower from the required reading list for high school freshmen.

On Wednesday, ABFE joined a letter signed by more than 40 civil liberties and human rights groups, trade associations, and major Internet and technology companies that urges President Obama and Congressional leaders to end the collection of the personal information of millions of Americans by the NSA.

The 21st Annual Children’s Book Art Auction and Reception at BEA will honor Judy Blume, the pioneering author who helped inspire a new candor in children’s books by daring to write about sex and other “adult” topics that trouble kids. Blume will also be recognized for her fight for the free speech rights of young adult readers.

The American Booksellers for Free Expression  has joined a protest over an orchestra’s decision to cancel a performance of a piece that includes a very short excerpt from a Nazi anthem. In a separate issue, ABFE is urging President Obama to take important steps to give the public greater access to government information.