Advocacy

As the Senate moves closer to a vote on the Marketplace Fairness Act of 2013 (S.743/S.336), numerous editorials and newspaper columns published this week expressed support for the bill’s passage.

On April 21, the Marketplace Fairness Coalition, a diverse array of trade associations and businesses, including the American Booksellers Association, wrote to members of the U.S. Senate to dispute erroneous assertions made by  eBay President and CEO John Donahoe about the Marketplace Fairness Act (S.736).

On Monday, April 22, the White House endorsed the Marketplace Fairness Act of 2013 (S.743). Later that day, the Senate voted overwhelmingly to move the bill to the Senate floor for debate.

In an April 19 e-mail to bookstore members regarding the class action settlement over rapidly rising Visa and MasterCard swipe fees, ABA recommended that members opt out and object to the settlement.

Last week, hundreds of small business owners met with elected officials in Washington, D.C., to communicate firsthand the need to pass the Marketplace Fairness Act. Participants in the two-day fly-in included Sarah Pishko of Prince Books and ABA Board member Sarah Bagby of Watermark Books & Café.

The U.S. Senate may vote on the Marketplace Fairness Act of 2013 as early as next week. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid plans to bring the bill directly to the floor for a vote without first referring it to the Senate Finance Committee, according to published reports.

A special section of this year’s Children’s Book Art Silent Auction at BEA will honor the late Maurice Sendak, the beloved author and illustrator of classic children’s titles and a passionate defender of free speech. A number of illustrators will be creating special artworks commemorating Sendak that will be auctioned off at the event.

As the Marketplace Fairness Act of 2013 continues to gain momentum in the U.S. Congress, three more states are considering enactment of sales tax fairness legislation that would level the playing field for Main Street retailers.

Two indie booksellers were among an array of small business owners who traveled to Washington, D.C., on Thursday, April 11, to meet with members of Congress to press for passage of the Marketplace Fairness Act.

While health insurance exchanges are not set to open until January 2014, enrollment for the exchanges begins October 1. Now is a good time for booksellers to be considering their new insurance options under the Affordable Care Act.