July 12, 2001
Michigan Retailers Association
expresses disappointment
over inaction on streamlined sales tax bill
LANSING -- The Michigan Retailers Association (MRA) today issued the following statement:
"Michigan retailers are disappointed that the Michigan Legislature failed to act on the streamlined sales tax bill (Senate Bill 433), which would allow the state to work with other states to simplify sales and use tax laws. Failure to pass the streamlined sales tax legislation continues the tax-collection inequity between Michigan-based retailers and remote sellers - Internet, catalog and other direct-ship merchants.
"Without legislative action, out-of-state competitors will continue to receive a 6-percent price advantage over Main Street retailers. And it will be tougher for Michigan to provide leadership over other states on this important national issue.
"We continue to advocate fair and equitable treatment for all retailers in the area of sales and use tax collection. Good public policy was held hostage by political horsetrading on other end-of-session bills. We look forward to lawmakers taking positive action on this legislation in the fall."
The Michigan Retailers Association is the unified voice of retailing in Michigan and the nation's largest state trade association of general merchandise retailers. MRA's more than 5,500 retail business members operate more than 12,000 stores across the state.
