WASHINGTON, D.C. –U.S. Senator Angus S. King, Jr. (I-Maine), praised the Senate’s final passage 69-27 of the MarketPlace Fairness Act of 2013. The legislation empowers states to enforce their own sales and use tax laws on out-of-state retailers making at least $1 million in annual online revenue. This bill does not create new taxes or increase existing taxes and passed with broad bipartisan support.

“I was proud to join my colleagues from both sides of the aisle to help level the playing field for brick-and-mortar retailers all across America,” said Senator King. “The Internet has dramatically changed the landscape of our marketplace by allowing consumers to purchase goods from anywhere in world. Unfortunately, this has left many local retailers disadvantaged because they are required to collect state and local sales and use taxes while their online and catalog competitors are not. Businesses selling the same products should be treated equally and this vote helped close an unfair loophole and cemented states’ right to decide for themselves what works best for their local governments, residents, and businesses.”

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