ITFA-MFA Debate Called 'Big Hold-up' in Senate Passage of Customs Bill

The combined debate over whether to keep a permanent extension of the Internet Tax Freedom Act (ITFA) in the conference Trade Facilitation and Enforcement Act (HR-644) and a proposal to attach the controversial Marketplace Fairness Act to HR-644 has been “the big hold-up” delaying Senate consideration of HR-644, said U.S. Chamber of Commerce Executive Vice President-Government Affairs Bruce Josten after a news conference Thursday on the industry group's business priorities for 2016. Supporters of keeping the permanent ITFA extension in HR-644 are seeking support for overriding an expected point of order from Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., and Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin, D-Ill., that would challenge the provision as being outside HR-644's intended scope (see 1601130071). Although it would be “pretty easy” for everyone to support a permanent extension of ITFA, Durbin's quest to pair MFA with the ITFA extension has “complicated” the process, Josten told reporters. MFA passed the Senate last Congress but it's “never been considered” in the House, even via the House Judiciary Committee, Josten said. MFA “needs to be socialized” in the House and “dealt with through regular order, and it hasn't been,” he said.