WBRZ - Baton Rouge

BATON ROUGE- The Marketplace Fairness Act, which is co-sponsored by U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-LA), would allow states to force online retailers to collect sales taxes on Internet purchases.

The bill is intended to help small businesses that often lose out to online retailers who don't have to charge sales tax to customers.

It could also help bolster state tax revenue. The National Conference of State Legislators estimates Louisiana loses out on more than $808 million dollars in Internet sales tax revenue each year.

News 2's Rob Krieger will have more on how it could affect the state and local retailers tonight.