Heidi Alexander: “this colloquy is for the purpose of marking an important day in the Senate because it was on this day 1 year ago that…”

“this colloquy is for the purpose of marking an important day in the Senate because it was on this day 1 year ago that the Senate overwhelmingly passed the Marketplace Fairness Act. We did this by an overwhelmingly bipartisan vote. Sixty-nine Senators, including about half of our Republican caucus, 21 Republicans, supported an 11-page bill--a rarity in this body--that is about just two words, and the words are ``States rights.'' The Marketplace Fairness Act, simply described, gives States the right to decide for themselves whether to collect or not collect State sales taxes that are already owed. This ability to collect taxes that are already owed would give States the option to reduce existing taxes or to avoid a new tax or to pay for services without raising taxes. The Marketplace Fairness Act closes a tax loophole that prefers some businesses over other businesses and some taxpayers over other taxpayers. Out-of-State businesses are being subsidized because they don't have to collect sales taxes--taxes that are owed--and local businesses do. As a result, some taxpayers are being subsidized because some pay sales taxes and others do not even though they may owe the taxes. That is not right, and it is not fair. This legislation, which passed the Senate 1 year ago, gives States the option to decide whether to change that.…”