Retailers rev up campaign for online sales tax

A leading trade group for the retail industry launched a 60-day ad and grassroots campaign urging Congress to approve an online sales tax. The ad blitz is part of the National Retail Federation’s (NRF) multiyear, $10 million campaign “Retail Means Jobs.” NRF officials said more than $1 million of the funds could eventually be used for the sales tax campaign. The ads target voters, small-business owners and retailers in 17 states, including ones that are represented by members of the House Judiciary Committee, which has jurisdiction over the tax issue. The NRF said the print and online ads would run in media both inside and outside the Beltway. The group said the campaign attempts to put a face on the need for an online sales tax and call on Congress to pass the Marketplace Fairness Act.