The House Ways and Means subcommittee approved...

The House Ways and Means subcommittee approved a bill under which states could require large mail-order sellers to collect sales taxes on purchases to out-of-state customers. It is unclear whether the full committee will consider the measure this year. The chief sponsor, Rep. Byron L. Dorgan, (D-N.D.), said enactment of the legislation could produce about $2 billion a year in sales taxes for the 46 states that have a sales tax and for the District of Columbia. Under the bill, the revenue would have to be shared by local governments.