Content about Senate

May 7, 2013
Senate approves Internet sales tax; opposition looms in House

The U.S. Senate on late Monday approved the long-debated Internet sales tax proposal, known as the Marketplace Fairness Act, by a bipartisan vote of 69 to 27.

Arlington, Va. -- The U.S. Senate on late Monday approved the long-debated Internet sales tax proposal, known as the Marketplace Fairness Act, by a bipartisan vote of 69 to 27. The Obama administration has already endorsed the bill, but before it can become law it must be approved by the House, where Republicans are split on the bill.

May 1, 2013
Main Street Fairness Act

Probably the most important bit of news for bricks-and-mortar retailers that broke over the past week is that the Senate voted to move forward with the Marketplace Fairness Act.

By Garrick Brown, research director, Terranomics

April 23, 2013
NRF applauds Senate vote on Marketplace Fairness Act
The National Retail Federation applauded a Senate vote to proceed with debate on S.743, an act to level the sales tax field for online and brick-and-mortar stores.

New York -- The National Retail Federation applauded a Senate vote to proceed with debate on S.743, an act to level the sales tax field for online and brick-and-mortar stores.

NRF president and CEO Matthew Shay issued the following statement: “NRF applauds today’s Senate vote on the Marketplace Fairness Act and we commend Senators Enzi, Durbin, Alexander and Heitkamp for their skilled leadership in moving this legislation ahead.”


March 6, 2013
NRF backs legislation to repeal health care employer mandate

The National Retail Federation this week welcomed introduction of House and Senate legislation that would repeal the employer mandate provision of the health care reform law scheduled to take effect next year.

Washington -- The National Retail Federation this week welcomed introduction of House and Senate legislation that would repeal the employer mandate provision of the health care reform law scheduled to take effect next year.

February 14, 2013
Retailers back Marketplace Fairness Act

The Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA) applauded reintroduction of federal legislation introduced today that closes the decades-old loophole that gives special treatment to online-only retailers.

Arlington, Va. -- The Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA) applauded reintroduction of federal legislation introduced today that closes the decades-old loophole that gives special treatment to online-only retailers.

January 2, 2013
NRF welcomes agreement to avoid fiscal cliff



The National Retail Federation on Wednesday welcomed an agreement reached between the White House and Congress on a plan to avoid the fiscal cliff.

WASHINGTON -- The National Retail Federation on Wednesday welcomed an agreement reached between the White House and Congress on a plan to avoid the fiscal cliff. The agreement was approved by the Senate early this morning and could be considered by the House as soon as today.


November 7, 2012
Election 2012: The impact on retail

The National Retail Federation said it looked forward to continuing to work with President Obama and the new Congress toward the goal of putting Americans back to work and ensuring that the nation’s economy remains the strongest in the world.

New York -- The National Retail Federation on Wednesday said it looked forward to continuing to work with President Obama and the new Congress toward the goal of putting Americans back to work and ensuring that the nation’s economy remains the strongest in the world.

August 13, 2012
HD: Shop-in-shops: One of the decade's big ideas

The Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA) has taken issue with an opinion piece that appears in the August 1, 2012, issue of the Wall Street Journal.

From J.C. Penney to Target to Selfridges, retailers across the spectrum are giving over valuable floor space to in-store shops. Here are some interesting observations on the phenomenon from Joanna Felder, VP intelligence and brand strategy at Chute Gerdeman, Columbus, Ohio.

Shop-in-shops offer retailers the magic formula of flexibility, brand-enhancing cachet and the ability to attract new customer segments. The opportunity has never been better for young, entrepreneurial hip brands to find a mainstream home.

August 1, 2012
RILA Debunks Op-Ed Piece on Marketplace Fairness Act

The Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA) has taken issue with an opinion piece that appears in the August 1, 2012, issue of the Wall Street Journal.

The Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA) has taken issue with an opinion piece that appears in the August 1, 2012, issue of the Wall Street Journal. The piece, written by United States Senator Jim DeMint (R-SC), is about the Marketplace Fairness Act (the legislation would end special treatment for online-only retailers who currently exploit a decade’s old loophole to avoid collecting and remitting state sales tax, according to RILA).

November 2, 2011
RILA and business groups urge Congress to close sales tax loophole

The Retail Industry Leaders Association, along with 125 business groups and employers nationwide, on Wednesday asked the Congressional Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction to include in their recommendations to the House and Senate a provision that would close the online sales tax loophole that is harming brick-and-mortar retail businesses and the communities they serve.

Arlington, Va. -- The Retail Industry Leaders Association, along with 125 business groups and employers nationwide, on Wednesday asked the Congressional Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction to include in their recommendations to the House and Senate a provision that would close the online sales tax loophole that is harming brick-and-mortar retail businesses and the communities they serve.

July 12, 2011
Annie Get Your Gun … and Bring it to Work

By Daniel J. Schuch, Nelsy C. Gómez and David L. Barron

By Daniel J. Schuch, Nelsy C. Gómez and David L. Barron

June 9, 2011
NRF praises Senate vote in favor of swipe-fee reform

On Wednesday, the Senate rejected the Tester-Corker amendment to delay swipe-fee reform.

Washington, D.C. -- On Wednesday, the Senate rejected the Tester-Corker amendment to delay swipe-fee reform.

March 11, 2011
Online sales tax bill approved by Arkansas Senate

The Arkansas Senate voted Thursday to require many out-of-state online retailers to collect sales taxes the same way in-state stores do, a move that is pitting Wal-Mart Stores against online stores and anti-tax activists, the Associated Press reported.

New York City -- The Arkansas Senate voted Thursday to require many out-of-state online retailers to collect sales taxes the same way in-state stores do, a move that is pitting Wal-Mart Stores against online stores and anti-tax activists, the Associated Press reported.

December 17, 2010
RILA responds to tax package nod

The Retail Industry Leaders Association said Friday that it applauds the final passage of a bipartisan agreement for extending critical individual and business taxes.

Arlington, Va. -- The Retail Industry Leaders Association said Friday that it applauds the final passage of a bipartisan agreement for extending critical individual and business taxes.

August 26, 2010
Congress extends implementation date of final rule governing gift cards

As a previous Chain Store Age guest commentary from May 7, 2010 outlined, the Federal...

By David S. Almeida, dsalmeida@michaelbest.com

As a previous Chain Store Age guest commentary from May 7, 2010 outlined (available here), the Federal Reserve Board recently issued new federal regulations governing the provision of retail gift cards.

June 17, 2010
NRF running radio ads to keep swipe fee amendment in bill

The National Retail Federation Friday launched a radio campaign urging the House and Senate to...

May 25, 2010
Vermont first state to limit credit-card swipe fees

Vermont has become the first state to pass legislation limiting the swipe fee on credit-...

May 9, 2010
NRF asks Senate to require ‘reasonable and proportionate’ cards

The National Retail Federation on Monday urged the Senate to approve amendments to financial services...

March 22, 2010
Retail associations united in opposition to healthcare overhaul

Associations representing the retail industry were united in their opposition to the historic healthcare legislation...

October 26, 2009
NRF to Senate: Approve tax-refund amendment

The National Retail Federation on Tuesday asked the Senate to approve an amendment that would...

September 28, 2008
U.S House OKs Extending Renewable Energy Tax Credits

The U.S. House of Representatives on Sept. 26 approved legislation to extend billions of dollars...

June 5, 2008
Senate Introduces Bill to Curb Credit-Card Fees

The Senate on Friday introduced an antitrust legislation that would require Visa and MasterCard to...

February 24, 2008
Sears Spent $280,000 Lobbying

Sears Holdings Corp. spent more than $280,000 in 2007 to lobby the federal government, the...

October 14, 2007
Report: Schwarzenegger Vetoes Retail Liability Bill

San Francisco, Republican...

September 17, 2007
Limited Brands Spent $360,000 Lobbying

Washington, D.C., Limited...