Anaheim, Calif.—Scott Humphrey, CEO, and other key representatives of World Floor Covering Association (WFCA) recently spent two days in Washington, D.C., meeting with the staffs of top members of Congress about the proposed Marketplace Fairness Act (MFA) and other issues of importance to flooring industry retailers.
“The Marketplace Fairness Act will force online sellers to collect taxes on their retail sales,” said Humphrey. “That will be a vital step in leveling the playing field between those who sell flooring on the Internet, many of whom advertise that they do not charge sales tax, and WFCA’s brick-and-mortar members.”
Humphrey and his WFCA team, which included general counsel Jeff King and the association’s public affairs agency of record, Lobbyit.com, met with the offices of senators Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Mike Enzi (R-Wyo.), Tim Scott (R-S.C.), and Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.), as well as representatives Jason Chafffetz (R-Utah), Steve Womack (R-Ark.), and Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Wash.).
Humphrey said WFCA is urging retailers to contact their federal and state representatives immediately and urge them to support the MFA. “Time is of the essence with respect to this issue,” he said. “And a ‘no’ vote on this legislation is a vote against an important and historic part of our local communities—the brick-and-mortar retail business operator.”