Do You Support a Sales Tax for Online Purchases?

Leave a comment to join the conversation about the Marketplace Fairness Act.

Do You Support a Sales Tax for Online Purchases?

The Marketplace Fairness Act was approved this week in the U.S. Senate, and is headed to the Republican-controlled U.S. House for consideration. Both Michigan's senators voted for the bill, which would require merchants to collect state taxes on internet

Michigan's U.S. Sens. Carl Levin and Debbie Stabenow, both Democrats, voted in support of a bill that requires merchants to collect state sales taxes for online purchases. The Marketplace Fairness Act passed the U.S. Senate 69-27 on Monday. Next up, the legislation goes to the GOP-led House. President Barack Obama has previously said he supports the bill. Supporters say the bill would level the paying field for traditional local retailers and collect much needed tax revenue for state. Opponents, including anti-tax activists and retailers, say it will be overly burdensome on small businesses and would effectively result in a tax increase. Neither Levin nor Stabenow issued public statements after Monday's vote explaining their support of the…

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Debbie Stabenow Talks Innovation, Bipartisan Collaboration in Birmingham

The U.S. Senator spoke in Birmingham Monday morning as part of the Birmingham Bloomfield Chamber's Government Forecast Breakfast.

Michigan is in a good place for growth and innovation. And in Washington, many legislators are ready to work across the aisle but are being blocked by radical members of the House. That was the message from U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), who spoke at the Birmingham Bloomfield Chamber’s Government Forecast Breakfast in Birmingham on Monday morning. Stabenow, a third-term Democrat who defended her seat against Republican challenger Pete Hoekstra in November, was first elected to the Senate in 2000. As the chairwoman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, Stabenow said Michigan’s main strength going forward is in the things it makes: from the food the farmers grow, to the cars being designed and rolled out at …

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Debbie Stabenow to Headline Birmingham Bloomfield Chamber Event

Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) will give the keynote address at the Birmingham Bloomfield Chamber's annual Government Forecast Breakfast on Feb. 11.

U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) will be making a visit to Birmingham next month when she delivers the keynote address for the Birmingham Bloomfield Chamber's Government Forecast Breakfast. The breakfast is scheduled for 8-9:30 a.m. Feb. 11 at The Community House. Held every winter as a reflection on what's happening in local, Michigan and national government now and in the year to come, last year's event featured Gov. Rick Snyder. Stabenow, a third-term Democrat who defended her seat against Republican challenger Pete Hoekstra in November, was first elected to the Senate in 2000. Stabenow will discuss the current political climate in Washington and its impact on the nation's — and Michigan's — economy. "We are excited Sen. Stabenow …

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POLL: Is U.S. Senate Candidate Hoekstra in Bounds or Over the Line?

Republican from Holland defends his Asian-theme ad shown during the Super Bowl that is provoking outcry.

A Michigan campaign ad first shown during the Super Bowl has people buzzing about Pete Hoekstra, a Republican former congressman from Holland who wants to unseat second-term U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow. He mocks her as "Debbie SpendItNow" in the half-minute spot, but that's not what provokes talk locally and nationally. His half-minute ad, which opens with the sound of a gong and other traditionally Asian tones, features an Asian-American actress speaking broken English as she claims "Debbie spends so much American money ... we take your jobs." Several Detroit pastors issued a statement urging Hoekstra to drop the ad, which is scheduled to run statewide for two weeks on cable TV. The Michigan chapter of a group called Asian & Pacific …

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Nancy Hanus

10:37 pm on Monday, February 6, 2012

We really do encourage debate, but when a comment string gets so mean-spirited and off topic, we have no choice but to close it down. We really expect respectful discussion, and this discussion has disintegrated. Thanks to those of you who have tried to get things back on topic.   more ›