Sen Durbin Still Hopeful for Action on Net Sales Tax Bill

Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) is still hopeful for action this year on his measure to require online retailers to collect sales taxes from their out-of-state customers.

He has authored legislation with Sens. Mike Enzi (R-WY) and Lamar Alexander (R-TN) that would close a loophole left by a 1992 Supreme Court decision. Sen Durbin noted that former Gov Haley Barbour (R-MS) is lobbying on the issue for the Retail Industry Leaders Association, which represents big box stores with brick-and-click operations such as Target and Wal-Mart. RILA along with other retail groups such as the National Retail Federation, Consumer Electronics Association and the International Council of Shopping Centers are backing the Enzi-Durbin bill. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) has indicated that the bill needs more Republican support before he'll bring it to the Senate floor, Sen Durbin said. He cited some progress in attracting GOP support, which will be key to overcoming a likely Republican filibuster. Durbin said he would still like to have the backing of at least a dozen Republicans. So far, only four Republicans in addition to Enzi have signed on as co-sponsors of the Enzi-Durbin bill. The bill, however, does have the backing of many GOP governors, who have voiced concern about losses in sales tax revenues given the growth in e-commerce.