![Minnesota Lawmakers Start to Assess Rach of Sales Tax](http://townsquare.media/site/67/files/2012/12/Minnesota-State-Capitol.jpg?w=980&q=75)
Minnesota Lawmakers Start to Assess Rach of Sales Tax
ST. PAUL (AP) - In a prelude to a bigger debate, Minnesota lawmakers have taken their opening looks at plans to apply the state sales tax to online purchases and expensive apparel.
A state Senate subcommittee on Wednesday reviewed a series of sales tax bills, including the one to make clothing sales above $200 taxable. No votes were taken, but lawmakers are just plunging into a debate over how to balance the budget and remake the tax code.
The clothing tax is the more controversial of the two. A Mall of America official says an apparel tax would hurt tourism because the current no-tax pitch is powerful.
Business groups with a major Capitol presence want the state to collect sales taxes on Internet purchases, saying it would erase a competitive disadvantage for brick-and-mortar stores.
(Copyright 2013 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved)
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