Shopping Centers Today is the news magazine of the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC)
Issue link: https://sct.epubxp.com/i/739734
N O V E M B E R 2 0 1 6 / S C T 37 fect in April, lawmakers stated even before the measure took effect that its aim was to trigger a test case that could reach the U.S. Supreme Court, giving justices an opportunity to revisit Quill. And yes, two lawsuits have already been filed questioning the South Da- kota law's constitutionality. Retailers would end up dealing with less-complicated tax rules under a congressionally authored tax solution, Behlke argues. Alternatively, if the Supreme Court were to allow states to require tax collection by remote sellers, there would be little incentive for states to work toward a simplified, national system. "If the courts do act," Behlke said, "I believe you'll have a patchwork of different laws around the country." ICSC supports state-level attempts to level the playing field between physi- cal stores and online retailers, but the organization has initiated no state mea- sures, preferring instead a uniform, federal solution, according to Jennifer Platt, ICSC's vice president of federal operations. The House Judiciary Committee has thus far declined to give the latest e- fairness bills a hearing or to take action. In March ICSC, the National Retail Federation, the Retail Industry Lead- ers Association, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and others wrote to Good- latte, in his capacity as Judiciary Com- mittee chairman, to urge the committee to report one of the remote-sales-tax measures to the House floor. "We're continuing to work with the chairman of the Judiciary Committee," Platt said. "But the clock is ticking on getting this done." Steve Fivel, assistant general coun- sel at Simon, expressed frustration at the lack of action. "[Chairman and CEO] David Simon has met with the House Judiciary chairman on several occasions and stressed how critical it is for his committee to get to work and start marking up a bill, but it's just not happening," Fivel said. "Put it on the agenda, and let's start mark- ing it up. If [Goodlatte] sees fit to get to work, we'll be there." Platt echoes the sentiment. "For at least 22 years, we've been trying to push this forward," she said, "and we think we're close, but we need our members to talk with their members of Congress." SCT David Reif Senior Vice President of Leasing & Construction 407-650-1156 david.reif@nnnreit.com Brian Cooper Director of Leasing 407-650-1206 brian.cooper@nnnreit.com 100% Equity Financing Nationwide Single-Tenant Retail Developer Funding with Forward Commitment