ICSC applauds as Marketplace Fairness Act of 2015 introduced in Congress

Washington, D.C -- The International Council of Shopping Centers applauded the introduction by Senators Mike Enzi (R-WY), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Lamar Alexander (R-TN) and Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND) of the Marketplace Fairness Act of 2015 in the 114th Congress. This legislation is aimed at ending the special treatment afforded online-only sellers at the expense of brick-and-mortar retailers, according to ICSC. It tracks closely with legislation that the Senate passed by an overwhelming, bipartisan majority in 2013.



"The Senate sponsors have initiated the process to ensure that the market, not the government, determines winners and losers," said Betsy Laird, senior VP of global public policy for ICSC. "With 60 votes in the Senate, it is now up to the House to move forward with legislation. We believe that this is the year they will finally stand up for local businesses that create jobs and support our communities."



The Marketplace Fairness Act of 2015 will get the government out of the way, restore the free market and close the loophole that has given an unfair advantage to online-only sellers like eBay and Overstock for over a decade, the ICSC said.