This week, Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad (R) urged his state’s U.S. senators to support the Marketplace Fairness Act, federal legislation that would allow states to require remote retailers to collect and remit sales tax in the state.

On May 30, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie announced that that the state had come to an agreement with Amazon.com that will have the retailer begin collecting and remitting state sales tax in exchange for opening two new warehouses in New Jersey.

ABA is encouraging its members to reach out to their state governors and federal lawmakers in support of sales tax fairness legislation currently under consideration in the U.S. House and Senate.

In a letter to the U.S. Senate dated May 9, Michigan Governor Rick Snyder publicly announced his support for the Marketplace Fairness Act (S. 1832).

The state of Texas has struck a deal with Amazon.com that will require the online retailer to begin collecting and remitting sales tax to the state for purchases by Texas residents beginning July 1, 2012. 

Last week, Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval (R) announced the state had worked out a deal with Amazon.com that would continue the online retailer’s sales tax advantage over Main Street businesses for another two years.

In a blow to Illinois’ Main Street retailers, Cook County Circuit Judge Robert Lopez Cepero ruled Wednesday that a law requiring remote retailers with a broad network of online affiliates acting as sales agents in the state to collect and remit sales tax was unconstitutional.

ABA CEO Oren Teicher urged the Massachusetts Department of Revenue to require Amazon.com to collect and remit sales tax on orders made by Massachusetts residents. Teicher’s letter was prompted by news that Amazon.com is opening an office in Cambridge. 

On Wednesday, the U.S. Department of Justice filed a civil suit in district court in New York against Apple and five of the major publishers with agency model pricing for e-books. Three of the publishers have agreed to settle; Apple and the other two publishers appear to be headed for court.

In a letter to members, ABA CEO Oren Teicher discusses Google’s decision to discontinue the Google eBooks reseller program, worldwide, effective January 31, 2013, and provides an update on ABA’s meeting with the Department of Justice regarding agency model pricing of e-books.