Kaine expects Marketplace Fairness Act to pass Senate early next week

Some Roanoke small business owners are begging Virginia leaders to put all merchants on the same playing field.

Virginia Senator Tim Kaine (D) was in town on Wednesday to hear what owners had to say about the Marketplace Fairness Act.

Online retailers do not have to collect local and state sales taxes from their customers at the moment.

Many have said this gives shoppers the ability to look at products in stores and then buy online to avoid paying taxes.

This bill would ultimately reverse that.

Kaine said Virginia is losing out on millions of dollars.

“These are tax dollars that have been owed, but since they aren’t collected the way normal sales taxes most people don’t even realize they are owed, “ said Kaine.

He told WDBJ 7 that he is calling for change and supporting this bill because the online shopping industry has advanced so much.

"Maybe earlier as computers and the internet were newer it was harder to figure out ways to collect, but now these retailers can do it instantaneously since technology allows it to happen the right thing to do is level the playing field," said Kaine.

Kaine expects the bill to pass in the Senate early next week.

The Roanoke Chamber of Commerce said a number of city businesses support the act.

Kaine also discussed economic revitalization in Roanoke with local leaders.

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