Advocacy

Advocates for Independent Business has re-launched #efairnessnow, a grassroots social media campaign in support of e-fairness, in the hope that the campaign will go viral and catch the attention of members of Congress.

The Marketplace Fairness Coalition has sent a letter signed by more than 320 organizations to Speaker of the House John Boehner that urges him to tackle e-fairness in this legislative session.

The Affordable Care Act insurance exchanges for individuals and small businesses are slated to reopen for open enrollment on Saturday, November 15. This enrollment period will mark the first time that Small Business Health Options Programs will be available online for businesses in all states.

With the results of the midterm elections now in, the long-term status of federal sales tax fairness legislation has become muddled; however, the lame-duck session of Congress still offers the best opportunity to pass federal sales tax fairness legislation, according to the Main Street Fairness Coalition.

While the status of federal sales tax legislation may be up in the air at present, an E-Fairness Map released this week by ABA makes one thing abundantly clear: The number of states tackling e-fairness on their own continues to grow.

Illinois state officials have announced that Amazon will be building a distribution center in the state and it’s expected that the online retailer will be receiving tax credits from the state. Under a new law that went into effect in August, Amazon is obligated to collect and remit sales tax to the state beginning January 1, 2015.

Richard Flanagan wins Man Booker Prize for Fiction; First Amendment groups challenge Idaho school’s parental consent form; Eric Schwartz joins Columbia University Press as editorial director

ABA and the New Atlantic Independent Booksellers Association are urging New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie to veto a bill that discriminates against independent bookstores that mistakenly disclose customer information to the police and other third parties.
 

The American Booksellers Foundation for Free Expression is asking children’s book artists to help raise money to defend the free speech rights of kids by contributing artwork to an online auction by October 31.

On September 25, Annell Gerson, co-owner of Bookmiser in Roswell, Georgia, joined with four other retailers to meet with Congressman Tom Price in support of e-fairness legislation. The face-to-face meeting is one of many being arranged by the Marketplace Fairness Coalition.
 

ABA has created new DIY materials to help booksellers educate their customers about their payment options under the Apple E-Book Settlement.

Eight organizations have written to Colorado’s Jefferson County School Board to oppose a proposed review of the curriculum for Advanced Placement U.S. History that is aimed at presenting only “positive aspects of the U.S. and its heritage.”

Following complaints from parents about mature content, seven books were removed from the Highland Park Independent School District’s reading list, including The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein, who said he was baffled by the school’s decision.

With the recent release of the paperback edition of Stephen Jimenez’s controversial The Book of Matt: Hidden Truths About the Murder of Matthew Shepard, ABFFE President Chris Finan reflects on the failed efforts to force 23 bookstores to cancel their events for the book last year and announces plans for an ABFFE program at Winter Institute.

Congress to take up e-fairness post-election; Amazon to collect in Minnesota and Maryland