Advocacy

The U.S. Supreme Court will hear a challenge brought by the Direct Marketing Association regarding the constitutionality of a 2010 Colorado law requiring out-of-state retailers to either collect and remit sales tax for purchases made by Colorado residents or to inform their Colorado customers that they owe use tax on the purchases they have made.

The European and International Booksellers Federation has announced its strong support for the decision by the German Publishers and Booksellers Association (Börsenverein des Deutschen Buchhandels) to file an official complaint against Amazon with the German Federal Antitrust Authority.

On Wednesday, the U.S. House of Representatives Judiciary Committee approved the Permanent Internet Tax Freedom Act, which places a ban on state and local taxation of Internet access. The Marketplace Fairness Coalition urged the committee to treat e-fairness with the same sense of urgency.

Two auctions of children’s book art held in conjunction with this year’s BookExpo America have raised more than $56,000 to help the American Booksellers Foundation for Free Expression defend the free speech rights of kids.

On Monday, June 16, the National Retail Federation and the Retail Industry Leaders Association urged an appeals court to overturn a federal judge’s approval of a controversial lawsuit settlement over Visa and MasterCard’s credit card swipe fees.

In a unanimous decision on Monday, the U.S. Supreme Court kept the court house door open to booksellers, publishers, and librarians to bring “pre-enforcement” challenges to censorship laws.

With the House Judiciary Committee’s unanimous passage of bill a couple of weeks ago, for the first time in years there is a  chance for meaningful change in the laws to protect Americans’ right to privacy, says ABFFE President Chris Finan.

The IRS has issued a notice stressing that employers that reimburse their employees pre-tax for premiums under a Health Reimbursement Account to pay for insurance in a health exchange could be subject to a fine of $100 per day per employee.

ABFFE and the national Banned Books Week planning committee have announced that this year’s celebration of the freedom to read will feature comics and graphic novels.

An online auction to benefit the American Booksellers Foundation for Free Expression is now accepting bids on eBay on more than 65 pieces of art created for children’s books.

Booksellers are invited to set up an appointment to discuss advocacy issues with David Grogan, ABA senior public policy analyst, in the Indie Bookseller Lounge at BEA.

The Institute for Local Self-Reliance’s Stacy Mitchell talks to BTW about the organization’s achievements over the past 40 years, the localism movement, and the growing trend toward independently owned retail.

Booksellers looking to catch up on a range of public policy issues affecting their businesses are encouraged to set up an appointment to meet with David Grogan in the ABA Indie Bookseller Lounge at BEA.

The Alliance for Main Street Fairness “Voices of Main Street Movement” asks small business owners to leave an audio testimonial, via a dedicated toll-free phone line, explaining why the U.S. House of Representatives needs to act on sales tax fairness legislation.

The Small Business Administration’s National Small Business Week kicks off on Monday, May 12, and booksellers are encouraged to participate in webinars and online events throughout the week