These two retailers played key role to defeat controversial proposal

Target Corp. and Best Buy didn't just talk the talk when it came to killing a border adjustment tax on imports that was the centerpiece of House Republicans tax reform plan.



In the first six months of 2017, Best Buy spent $1.71 million in lobbying efforts, twice as much as it spent the entire year in 2016, the Star Tribune reported. Target Corp. spent $1.48 million lobbying from January through June 2017, which was slightly less than it spent all of last year.



With the election of President Trump, tax reform became a priority, according to the report, and some feared that the border tax would not only pass, but pass quickly. The retail industry sprung into action, and began "one of the most furious and successful lobbying campaigns seen in Washington in recent years," according to the report.



“Target and Best Buy played a leading role in this,” David French, VP of government relations for the National Retail Federation, told the Star Tribune. “They activated their associates. They were working hard to make sure they were heard. The retail industry is very powerful when we align our interests with our customers.”



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