Wanted: A Plan B for online sales tax legislation

It took mere minutes last month for the House to strike down a long-anticipated proposal by Gov. Chris Sununu to protect New Hampshire businesses from online sales taxes. Weeks later, the Legislature is still struggling to come up with a replacement.

After the House stripped away major pieces of a bill crafted by House and Senate lawmakers and reduced it to a study committee, the Senate quickly moved to pull the plug entirely, voting the remnants down. Emotions were high. An exasperated Senate President Chuck Morse urged his colleagues to keep their calendars open, keeping observers guessing as to what the chamber might string together next.

Two months after the Supreme Court issued the decision that could open up Granite State businesses to the threat, few alternative proposals have emerged. Though House and Senate lawmakers say legislation is being discussed, little has been unveiled.

Now, two Republican representatives say they’ve found a new – and bold – solution. Reps. Jess Edwards of Auburn and Kevin Scully of Nashua are crafting a bill that would challenge the whole foundation of the Supreme Court’s decision. And they say they’re picking up support.

Read more: https://www.concordmonitor.com/Capital-Beat-Wanted-A-Plan-B-for-online-sales-tax-legislation-19519059