Ron Wyden

Sens. Ron Wyden and Kelly Ayotte proposed a resolution this week that seeks to exempt small businesses from upcoming bills that would allow states to require online retailers to collect sales tax from in-state customers. Also on Wednesday, 126 national and state retail groups, including NRF, sent a letter urging the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction to include online sales tax in its final package.

State and local government officials have been scouring for ways to pump money into underfunded public coffers, and many are starting to look at taxing internet commerce with dollar signs in their eyes. But Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) told POLITICO he wants to ensure local jurisdictions don’t turn to taxing digital goods and services as a way to “make a quick buck.”