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Grassroots Alert:

** Stop the Austin Bag Tax and Bag Ban**


Click here to tell the Austin City Council to oppose the proposed bag tax and bag ban ordinance

Click here to send a letter to the Austin City Council expressing your opposition against the proposed bag tax and bag ban. 

resource.

 latest industry news

  Austin Bag Ban  

   TRA's Letter to Austin Resource and Recovery Director Bob Gedert

   Plan for Austin bag ban getting tweaked a third time

   Plastic bag ban could be enforced next year 

   Plastic bag ban could happen next year

   Austin bag ban pushed with faulty numbers 

   City may ban plastic bags in 2012, not 2016

   Volkening: Don't jump gun on plastic bag ban in Austin

   Public sounds off on Austin bag ban

  E-fairness/Main Street Fairness
   Amazon.com gets creative with in-store price check promotion on Saturday

   Amazon.com's new app could hurt local biz

  TRA Exclusive 
   Texas Retailers Association gives an early look at 2011 Holiday sales

  Elections
   John Raney wins District 12 Runoff 

   Texas Retailers Endorse State Rep. Chuck Hopson in HD11 Republican Primary

    Texas Retailers Endorse State Senator Craig Estes in SD 30 Republican Primary 

savings partner.

 our newest savings partners

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  See our complete list of savings partners here

advocate.

current issues

Austin bag ban 

An ordinance banning plastic and paper bags has been proposed in Austin. The policy would create a 25 cent per bag fee and is currently being reviewed by the Solid Waste Advisory Commission. The policy will then be submitted to the Austin City Council for a vote. The proposed 25 cents per bag fee will be the most expensive and regressive bag tax in the country, with disproportionately negative impacts on families and lower-income residents. If you would like to take action on this issue or provide testimony at future hearings, email our Communications Director: cblanda@txretailers.org. Read more about this issue and how TRA is taking action here. 

Main Street Fariness

The national conversation about Main Street Fairness policy is heating up, it is clear that our tax codes must be updated to end the pre-internet sales tax loophole that many online-only retailers us to gain an unfair advantage over brick-and-mortar retailers. The current system undermines not only Main Street retailers but also local and state government. Last session, TRA worked pass e-fairness language into Senate Bill 1 which ensures that online-only retailers with a business presence in Texas must collect sales taxes rather than reaping a competitive advantage over local brick-and-mortar retailers that employ Texans. Read more about this issue and how TRA is taking action here. 

Endoresd 2012 Candidates

TRA PAC is in the process of endorsing candidates for the 2012 elections.See a list of TRA endorsed candidates, here. Make sure to check back as Election Day draws closer to download a list of TRA approved candidates to take with you to the ballot box. 

crime fighter. 

organized retail crime

Organized Retail Crime (ORC) refers to professional shoplifting, cargo theft, retail crime rings and other organized crime occurring in retail environments. ORC crimes cost retailers close to $37 billion a year. TRA is leading the fight against ORC and worked to pass the first ORC law in Texas in 2007 which increases penalties for offenders. TRA has hosted several round tables a year across the state to allow law enforcement and retail loss prevention specialists to share the latest information on activity and prevention. Read more about this issue and how TRA is taking action here.

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