The Senate budget resolution approved by the chamber last week included an amendment in support of the Marketplace Fairness Act (S 336) – legislation to authorize states to require remote vendors to collect state sales taxes. The amendment, sponsored by Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), Mike Enzi (R-WY) and Lamar Alexander (R-TN), was agreed to 75-24. States that do not collect sales tax were the primary opponents of the measure during floor debate. Although the Senate Resolution does not have the force of law, the strong, bipartisan vote is intended to send a signal to leadership and to the House that Marketplace Fairness has broad support and should be considered this year.

Another amendment adopted in the Senate budget resolution would call for the creation of a biennial federal budget and appropriations process. The non-binding proposal, sponsored by Senators Johnny Isakson (R-GA) and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), earned bipartisan support and was agreed to 68-31. As the budget resolution is not legally binding, Senators Isakson and Shaheen have also introduced legislation, the Biennial Budgeting and Appropriations Act (S 554), that would convert the annual federal budget and appropriations process to a two-year cycle.

Link(s): S 336; S 554