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July
25, 2008
This Issue:
Georgia Sales Tax Holiday
Interchange Bill
Organized Retail Crime
Georgia Sales Tax Holiday
The economy of Georgia should get a shot in the arm with the Sales
Tax Holiday scheduled for this Thursday, July 31st through Sunday,
August 3, 2008. During the sales tax holiday period, a sales tax
exemption applies to purchases of tangible personal property in
the following categories:
Articles of Clothing. The exemption applies to articles of clothing
and footwear with a sales price of $100 or less per item. Clothing
accessories such as handbags, umbrellas, cuff links, handkerchiefs,
jewelry, key cases, wallets, watches and watch bands, and ponytail
holders and/or similar hair products are not exempt.
Personal Computers. A single purchase of $1,500 or less of personal
computers and/or related accessories is exempt. If the single purchase
exceeds $1,500, the entire transaction is taxable.
General School Supplies. The exemption applies to the purchase of
general school supplies with a sales price of $20 or less per item.
The exemptions are intended for an individual's personal use. The
exemptions exclude items rented, leased, purchased by businesses,
or purchased for resale. The exemptions do not apply to items sold
at theme parks, entertainment complexes, hotels, restaurants, and
airports.
Georgia Representative Votes Against Interchange Bill In House Judiciary
Committee
The House Judiciary Committee voted the Credit Card Fair Fee Act,
H.R. 5546, out of committee on a strong bipartisan vote on July
16, 2008. Ten Democrats and nine Republicans joined House Judiciary
Committee Chairman John Conyers, a democrat from Michigan in supporting
the bill. However, Hank Johnson, Georgia Congressman from the 4th
District voted against the bill.
The Credit Card Fair Fee Act, as passed out of Committee, will level
the playing field for retailers of all sizes with Visa and MasterCard,
by allowing them limited antitrust immunity to band together to
negotiate with the credit card giants. The next step is a House
floor vote, hopefully in September. Please contact Elisabeth
Stein on the Congressman’s staff to let her know that you
support H.R. 5546 and want Congressman Johnson to support the bill
when it comes up for a floor vote in September. Her phone number
is 202-225-1605 and her e-mail address is elisabeth.stein@mailhouse.gov.
Co-Sponsors Needed for H. R. 6491 - Combat Organized Retail
Crime
As we reported to you on July 18th, legislation (H. R. 6491) has
been introduced to address organized retail crime, a growing nationwide
problem that victimizes consumers and retailers alike. The new legislation
is entitled "The Organized Retail Crime Act of 2008".
This timely initiative for the first time would specifically recognize
Organized Retail Crime under the U. S. Criminal Code. It concisely
defines ORC to include the theft, transport and resale of goods
stolen or fraudulently obtained. H. R. 6491 would apply to pawn
shops, flea markets, swap meets, shady store-front operations and
internet auction sites that are selling stolen merchandise.
Please contact your Representative and ask them to consider co-sponsoring
H.R. 6491.
Suggested Language:
I am asking for your support and co-sponsorship of the "Organized
Retail Crime Act of 2008" which clarifies what constitutes
Organized Retail Crime and allows such crimes to be prosecuted as
a federal felony.
Organized Retail Crime, or ORC, is a growing problem that victimizes
consumers and retailers alike. Nationwide, retail stores from supermarkets
and pharmacies to department stores are being victimized by professional
crime rings who are stealing large quantities of merchandise for
resale through pawn shops, flea markets, swap meets, shady store-front
operations and over internet auction sites.
These ORC gangs are pilfering infant formula, razor blades, analgesics,
teeth whitening strips, diabetic supplies, batteries and gifts cards
among other things. According to federal law enforcement officials,
ORC translates into as much as $30 billion in retail store losses
each year. So rampant is the problem that many grocery stores are
placing infant formula and other products behind a service counter
or in locked cases to deter theft.
As a result of ORC consumers are paying higher prices as companies
such as mine attempt to recoup our losses. States suffer as well
losing some $1.6 billion a year in uncollected state sales tax revenue
due to ORC activity.
Clearly, making ORC a federal felony is needed because antiquated
state laws treat ORC as shoplifting which is a misdemeanor with
little threat of prosecution or jail time.
On behalf of our customers and employees who are at risk because
of the brazen and violent nature of ORC rings, I urge you to co-sponsor
H. R. 6491. The Ellsworth-Jordan bill will allow federal law enforcement
to go after these sophistical crime rings in a more efficient manner
than what is available under present law.
Sincerely,
[Your name]
[Your address]
Thank you.
John C. Heavener, MSM, CAE
President
johnh@georgiaretail.org
Telephone – 770-484-3449, ext. 21
Fax – 770-484-5727
Georgia Retail Association
About GRA: The Georgia Retail Association, with
membership that comprises all retail formats and channels of distribution
including department, specialty, discount, catalog, Internet, independent
stores, and grocery stores has been serving the state’s business
community since 1961. The Georgia Retail Association represents
an industry with more than 71,300 retail establishments, and more
than 715,000 employees - about one in five of Georgia’s workers
- and 2004 sales of $115.2 billion.
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Friendly CRR July 25, 2008
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