1.1                             A resolution 
  1.2             memorializing Congress to require Internet sellers to 
  1.3             collect state and local taxes. 
  1.4      WHEREAS, sales made over the Internet are an increasing 
  1.5   percent of total retail sales; and 
  1.6      WHEREAS, Internet businesses and other remote sellers have 
  1.7   an economic advantage over local retailers in not collecting the 
  1.8   sales tax; and 
  1.9      WHEREAS, consumers currently owe tax on Internet and other 
  1.10  remote purchases and remittance by the consumer is an 
  1.11  inefficient means of collecting the tax; and 
  1.12     WHEREAS, the State of Minnesota will lose about $447 
  1.13  million and local governments in Minnesota will lose about $7 
  1.14  million in the 2004-2005 fiscal biennium from noncollection of 
  1.15  tax on Internet and other remote sales; and 
  1.16     WHEREAS, the loss of sales tax revenues to the State of 
  1.17  Minnesota due to noncollection by Internet and other remote 
  1.18  sellers is estimated to be $334 million annually by 2007; and 
  1.19     WHEREAS, the loss of sales tax revenues to several states 
  1.20  is a growing burden during a time of severe budget shortfalls; 
  1.21  NOW, THEREFORE, 
  1.22     BE IT RESOLVED by the Legislature of the State of Minnesota 
  1.23  that Congress should speedily enact legislation requiring 
  1.24  Internet and other remote sellers to collect and remit state and 
  2.1   local sales taxes. 
  2.2      BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of State of the 
  2.3   State of Minnesota is directed to prepare copies of this 
  2.4   memorial and transmit them to the President and the Secretary of 
  2.5   the United States Senate, the Speaker and Clerk of the United 
  2.6   States House of Representatives, and Minnesota's Senators and 
  2.7   Representatives in Congress.