State Legislators Coming to the Hill on a Mission: Get Congress to Pass the Marketplace Fairness Act

Washington, D.C. – Hundreds of state legislators from across the nation will converge on Capitol Hill on Wednesday, Dec. 5, to urge Congress to pass the Marketplace Fairness Act, which grants states the authority to require online and catalog retailers to collect and remit sales taxes.

The Marketplace Fairness Act is critical to leveling the playing field for local brick and mortar businesses, and ensure tax equity for state taxpayers.

State legislators will assemble in the U.S. Senate Auditorium (SD50) at 1 p.m. to hear from the bill’s sponsors, including U.S. Senators Mike Enzi (R-Wyo.) and Richard Durbin (D-Ill.), and U.S. Representatives Steve Womack (R-Ark.), Jackie Speier (D-Calif.) and Peter Welch (D-Vt.).

Following their remarks, the members of Congress will be joined by their state legislator colleagues for a press conference. Included in the press conference will be Utah Senator Curt Bramble (R), Louisiana Senator Sharon Weston Broome (D), Illinois Senator Pamela Althoff (R), Maryland Delegate Sheila Hixon (D), Oregon Senator Bruce Starr (R), Arizona Senator Debbie Smith (D) and Kansas Senator Stephen Morris (R).

Following the press conference, the state legislators will be meeting individually with their members of Congress, urging them to pass the Marketplace Fairness Act.

As a result of not passing the Marketplace Fairness Act, states are estimated to lose out on a collective $23.3 billion in owed state sales taxes in 2012.

NCSL is a bipartisan organization that serves the legislators and staffs of the states, commonwealths and territories. It provides research, technical assistance and opportunities for policymakers to exchange ideas on the most pressing state issues and is an effective and respected advocate for the interests of the states in the American federal system.