As a businesswoman of 39 years, I was surprised that Rep. Jim Moeller, D-Vancouver, would have sponsored a bill to end the sales-tax exemption for nonresidents. (Supermajority approval was required, so House Bill 2791 failed.) Moeller said that it is one of the top complaints he hears from his constituents, but what about all the businesses on the Oregon-Washington border?
What about sticking up for small business for a change? The revenue the bill would have generated could only be estimated, and if it would have caused a business to go under or lay off employees, then there would have been that many more people drawing unemployment.
Remember that taxes are collected on labor for all, even nonresidents.
Barbara White
Longview
