Amazon Optimistic About Net Sales Tax Bill

Paul Misener, Amazon's vice president for global public policy said that he sees a shift in momentum in favor of legislation his company supports that would authorize states to require online company's such as his own to collect sales taxes from out of-state customers. "I'm optimistic because the political dynamic has changed," Misener said during a discussion on the issue at the annual State of the Net conference. Misener noted a bipartisan Senate bill that Amazon backs would allow the federal government to help cash-strapped states bring in additional revenues without having to provide any federal funds. He added that he is "heartened" that the debate appears to have shifted away from whether to pass legislation to how it should be crafted and how big of an exemption should be included for small businesses.