Michigan Retailers Applaud U.S. Supreme Court Action on Main Street Fairness

LANSING, MI--(Marketwired - Dec 2, 2013) - The Michigan Retailers Association (MRA) today cheered the U.S. Supreme Court's refusal to hear two major online merchants' challenge to New York state legislation forcing them to collect state sales tax and said the action gives a "green light" to current efforts to enact similar Michigan Main Street Fairness legislation.

"Retailers all across Michigan applaud the action by the U.S. Supreme Court because it removes an excuse that critics have used to hold up passage of legislation to remove the 6 percent price advantage Michigan government gives to out-of-state online retailers," said James P. Hallan, president and CEO.

"The action gives a green light to our legislative efforts in Michigan. It's critically important and timely news for Cyber Monday."

The Court declined to get involved in petitions from Amazon and Overstock.com to review a decision by New York's highest court to uphold that state's 2008 Main Street Fairness law requiring sales tax collections on merchandise sold to New York residents. Amazon has no distribution centers or employees in New York but sells to residents through third-party affiliates, which the 2008 law said constitutes a physical presence.

Similar legislation pushed by MRA was introduced in the Michigan House in 2011 and again this year. House Bills 4202 and 4303, sponsored by Rep. Eileen Kowall (R-White Lake) and Rob VerHeulen (R-Walker), cleared the House Tax Policy Committee in September and await action by the entire House. Similar bills were introduced in the Senate (SB 658 and 659) by Sen. Jim Ananich (D-Flint) last month and await consideration by the Senate Economic Development Committee.

Michigan Retailers Association represents nearly 5,000 members and their more than 15,000 stores and websites in Michigan. Retailers provide more than 850,000 jobs in Michigan.