Flamingo World Takes on Anti-Affiliate Legislation SF 282 in Minnesota Today

While there was a recent victory in Maryland for the affiliate industry, the battle fighting the recent crop of New York Amazon Tax clones continues. According to the Performance Marketing Alliance, the Minnesota Senate tax committee will be reviewing SF 282. Expected to testify against the legislation today is Connie Berg, Owner of Flamingo World, who has been outspoken against the tax. We wish Connie good luck.

If you are an affiliate in Minnesota here are some ways to reach your representatives:

Call, fax or email your Senators today. Here is where you can get contact information.

Call your Representative

Since the bill is up for review by the Senate tax committee contact your in the Senate representative first. Make sure to make that call the priority. You’ll probably just leave a message or talk to a staffer. It is a very brief conversation. Here’s what you say:

My name is [ ], and I am a small business owner in your district. SB 282  will jeopardize my business. There are hundreds of small businesses just like mine in Minnesota, which will be devastated if this bill passes. We are affiliate marketers and we advertise on the internet. SB 282 assumes we sell on behalf of out-of-state retailers, but that is not true. I urge you to oppose SB 282.

Send a letter, email or fax to your house and senate representatives.

These are 2 quick messages. It is important to stick to some very simple points, which will have the most impact to these representatives.  Form letters aren’t as effective as sending something personal. Fax is probably the best and fastest approach.

Here are key points to include in your message:

1. Who you are, where you live, and any ties you have to the community.

2. Include this information, or a variation:
I am an affiliate marketer and I earn a living through Internet advertising. I do not sell merchant products, I do not even know who their customers are. My business earns revenue through advertising for out-of-state merchants. XX% of my revenue comes from out-of-state merchants (it is important to add an approximate percentage, so legislators can see the impact). I know out-of-state advertisers will stop working with me, because that is what happened to affiliates in New York.

3. Emphatically state:
I am against SB 282. As my representative I need you to vote to oppose SB 282.  Can I count on you to be against this terrible legislation?

4. Ask your legislator to contact you and provide an update on SB 282. Be sure to include your telephone and email.

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Special thanks to the PMA for providing this information template.