Advocacy

In a letter to the U.S. Senate dated May 9, Michigan Governor Rick Snyder publicly announced his support for the Marketplace Fairness Act (S. 1832).

The New England Local Business Forum last week in Cambridge, Massachusetts, brought together partners in the book, bike, and toy industries to create a diverse environment for sharing innovative ideas and learning how to better grow local businesses.

Almost two years after the Durbin “swipe fee” amendment was signed into law as part of the sweeping Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, the Federal Reserve reported that the average interchange fee has nearly been halved.

The state of Texas has struck a deal with Amazon.com that will require the online retailer to begin collecting and remitting sales tax to the state for purchases by Texas residents beginning July 1, 2012. 

Last week, Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval (R) announced the state had worked out a deal with Amazon.com that would continue the online retailer’s sales tax advantage over Main Street businesses for another two years.

The June 6 Children’s Art Auction at BEA will provide added excitement this year when live bidding opens on several rare items.  An online preview of more than 70 mostly silent auction items is now live.

On Thursday, May 3, ABA CEO Oren Teicher e-mailed member stores about an important opportunity to make a public comment about the Department of Justice consent decree in regard to the agency model.

In a blow to Illinois’ Main Street retailers, Cook County Circuit Judge Robert Lopez Cepero ruled Wednesday that a law requiring remote retailers with a broad network of online affiliates acting as sales agents in the state to collect and remit sales tax was unconstitutional.

This week, ABA submitted written testimony to the U.S. Senate Committee on Finance in support of the Marketplace Fairness Act (S. 1832), legislation that would give states the right to require remote retailers to collect and remit sales tax in the state, if they choose to do so.

ABFFE is urging booksellers to participate in the 30^th annual celebration of Banned Books Week, from September 30 to October 6. This year’s plans include an Internet read-out, a speaker program for bookstores interested in hosting an event about censorship, and more.

ABA CEO Oren Teicher urged the Massachusetts Department of Revenue to require Amazon.com to collect and remit sales tax on orders made by Massachusetts residents. Teicher’s letter was prompted by news that Amazon.com is opening an office in Cambridge. 

A U.S. District Court struck down as unconstitutional a sales tax fairness law in Colorado that required out-of-state retailers to either collect and remit sales tax for purchases made by Colorado residents or inform their Colorado customers that they owe use tax on any purchase they have made.

On Wednesday, April 4, Utah Gov. Gary Herbert signed into law a bill that requires remote retailers with nexus in Utah via distribution centers or subsidiaries to collect and remit sales tax for purchases made by state residents.

Last week, Betsy Burton, the co-owner of  The King’s English Bookshop and an ABA Board member, spoke in support of sales tax fairness at the International Council of Shopping Center’s Strategic Leadership Summit and the American Independent Business Alliance 2012 Conference.

The campaign for sales tax fairness continued to heat up this week, with legislative activity in Iowa and Louisiana.