Stacy Mitchell, director of ILSR’s Independent Business Initiative, Discusses the Bill’s Impact
On a 74-20 vote last night, the U.S. Senate moved to advance debate on the Marketplace Fairness Act, which would allow states to require large online retailers to collect sales taxes.
“For nearly two decades, Main Street businesses have been competing with one hand tied behind their back,” said Stacy Mitchell, who directs the Independent Business Initiative at the Institute for Local Self-Reliance (ILSR). “By exempting their large online competitors from having to collect sales taxes, Congress has undermined independent brick-and-mortar stores and hurt the economy.”
Mitchell noted:
- Federal data show independent brick-and-mortar retailers create almost 4 times as many permanent jobs per $1 million in sales as Amazon does.
- Independent retailers generate significant secondary economic impacts, supporting a wide range of other businesses in the community, such as accountants, printers, and local media outlets.
“The Senate’s vote to advance the Marketplace Fairness Act is good news for communities struggling to improve their economies. Congress appears at long last to be moving toward leveling the playing field and ensuring that independent brick-and-mortar retailers have an equal chance to compete.”
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Stacy Mitchell directs the Institute for Local Self-Reliance’s Independent Business Initiative and is the author of Big-Box Swindle. ILSR is a 38-year-old national nonprofit research and educational organization that works to support strong, community rooted, environmentally sound and equitable local economies. More at https://ilsr.org.
