Sen. Alexander Holds Roundtable in D.C with Small Employers from Around the Country
Senator Lamar Alexander met with entrepreneurs from Small Business Majority̢???s Network Council on Sept. 18 to discuss Marketplace Fairness and other key small business issues
Washington DC̢??On Wednesday, Sen. Lamar Alexander met with small business owners from across the country to discuss the Marketplace Fairness Act of 2013̢??a bill introduced by the Senator earlier this year̢??and its goal of leveling the playing field between ̢???brick and mortar̢???? small businesses and online and catalog retailers when it comes to sales tax collection.
The legislation would grant states the authority to compel online and catalog retailers, no matter where they are located, to collect sales tax at the time of a transaction̢??exactly like local retailers are already required to do. States would also be required to simplify their sales tax laws in order to ease those concerns and make multistate sales tax collection easy.
̢???Equity in the marketplace is essential for my business to compete with other companies. Small business owners like me just want other retailers to pay the same taxes we̢???re already subject to," said Kris Kleindienst, co-owner of Left Bank Books in St. Louis, Mo. ̢???The Marketplace Fairness Act will go a long way in bridging the gap between ̢???brick and mortar̢???? small businesses and online and catalog companies.̢????
Kleindienst is part of Small Business Majority̢???s Network Council̢??business owners from various industries across the nation who volunteer their time and entrepreneurial expertise to educate policymakers about the biggest issues facing small businesses today. The group was in Washington this week as part of Small Business Majority̢???s 2nd Annual Network Council Trip.
The members of Small Business Majority̢???s Network Council come from 15 states, including: California, Colorado, Maryland, Michigan, Missouri, Nevada, New Hampshire, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Utah, Virginia and West Virginia.
To speak to Kleindienst or another small business owner who attended today̢???s meeting contact, Allison Abney, Media Relations Manager with Small Business Majority at (202) 289-0957 or [email protected].
<p><strong>About Small Business Majority</strong><br />
Small Business Majority is a national small business advocacy organization, founded and run by small business owners to focus on solving the biggest problems facing America's 28 million small businesses today. Since 2005, we have actively engaged small business owners and policymakers in support of public policy solutions, and have delivered information and resources to entrepreneurs that promote small business growth and drive a strong, sustainable economy. We are a team of more than 30 working from our 11 offices in Washington, D.C. and 9 states, with a network of more than 45,000 small business owners and more than 2,000 business organizations, along with a formal strategic partnership program of more than 125 business organizations, enabling us to reach more than 500,000 entrepreneurs. Our extensive scientific polling, focus groups and economic research help us educate and inform policymakers, the media and other stakeholders about issues including taxes, healthcare, access to capital, entrepreneurship, workforce development, clean energy and immigration. Learn more about us on our website and follow us on <a href="https://twitter.com/SBM_Media" target="_blank">Twitter</a>, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/SmallBusinessMajority" target="_blank">Facebook</a> and <a href="https://instagram.com/smlbizmajority/" target="_blank">Instagram</a>.</p>