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(74 seconds)
-- How Will You Use This Story? --
(OPEN):
REPUBLICAN SENATORS LAMAR ALEXANDER AND MIKE ENZI--ALONG
WITH DEMOCRATIC SENATORS DICK DURBIN AND TIM JOHNSON--HAVE
JUST INTRODUCED THE "MARKETPLACE FAIRNESS ACT"--WHICH "LEVELS THE
PLAYING-FIELD" BETWEEN ONLINE-ONLY RETAILERS, LIKE AMAZON,
AND TRADITIONAL, "MAIN STREET"-RETAILERS. REGINA [AS IN
"GEE"] SEELINGER [ALSO SOFT "G"]--A
SMALL-BUSINESSWOMAN WHO OWNS SPOKES LITTLE ROCK--EXPLAINS
WHY SHE SUPPORTS THE LEGISLATION...
(SEELINGER):
"WE NEED TO
END SPECIAL TREATMENT FOR ONLINE-ONLY RETAILERS, LIKE 'AMAZON-DOT-COM'.
OUR INTERNET-COMPETITION SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO PLAY BY THE SAME RULES,
AND COLLECT SALES-TAX--JUST LIKE WE DO. THIS LEGISLATION WOULD
GIVE ALL BUSINESSES THE CHANCE TO COMPETE IN A FREE MARKET. THAT'S
ALL I ASK, AS A BUSINESS-OWNER: LET ME COMPETE FOR BUSINESS ON A
LEVEL PLAYING-FIELD--AND GIVE US ALL THE SAME CHANCE TO SUCCEED."
(BRIDGE):
THE LEGISLATION IS ENDORSED BY A BIPARTISAN GROUP OF SENATORS;
SEELINGER EXPLAINS WHY IT'S SIGNIFICANT FOR SMALL-BUSINESS OWNERS...
(SEELINGER):
"LOCAL RETAILERS ARE HURTING--AND IT DOESN'T HELP WHEN GOVERNMENT
GIVES PREFERENTIAL TREATMENT TO A HANDFUL OF GIANT ONLINE-RETAILERS THAT
USE THAT ADVANTAGE TO PUT 'MAIN STREET'-STORES OUT OF BUSINESS.
WASHINGTON NEEDS TO STOP PICKING WINNERS AND LOSERS WITH THE TAX-CODE."
(CLOSE):
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON "E-FAIRNESS"-LEGISLATION, VISIT
"STAND-WITH-MAIN STREET"-DOT-ORG.
