E-Fairness Action Kit: New State-Specific Fact Sheets Added
Printer-friendly versionThis week, 10 more state-specific fact sheets were added to the E-Fairness Action Kit (E-FACT) on BookWeb.org, the American Bookseller Association's member website. Next week, the ABA will add the final fact sheets for the remaining states that collect sales tax but do not yet have e-fairness laws. ABA launched E-FACT in January to provide booksellers with a wide array of state-specific tools to help them in their e-fairness outreach efforts.
New fact sheets are now available for:
There are also fact sheets available for:
The fact sheets provide legislators with hard data about the economic value that independent booksellers as a whole bring to their state. By combining the data from these facts sheets with anecdotal, frontline information about how the current sales tax inequity is negatively affecting their businesses booksellers have the ammunition to make the case to their legislators for sales tax fairness. In addition, the fact sheets are great "leave behinds" following face-to-face meetings with elected officials or their staffs. Importantly, the aggregate numbers in each state's fact sheet do not reveal any individual store's financial information.
For booksellers in the 42 states that collect sales tax but do not have e-fairness legislation, E-FACT provides state-specific template letters to state legislators and the governor calling for e-fairness. Booksellers can simply go to E-FACT and navigate to their state's materials, where they will find the relevant documents that can be adapted and then e-mailed to the appropriate person. In the coming weeks and months, E-FACT will also include op-ed pieces, FAQs, relevant articles, and practical suggestions for advocating on behalf of e-fairness.
Booksellers who have questions, need assistance, or want more information on ABA's e-fairness efforts should contact Senior Public Policy Analyst David Grogan at (914) 373-6662 or via e-mail at [email protected].