Here’s how tariffs are affecting consumer behavior

With oral arguments set for November 29, some 17 organizations and individuals have teamed up to file six separate amicus briefs urging the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit to uphold a lower court decision striking key provisions of HB 900, Texas’s controversial book rating law. Among the briefs and arguments filed on November 17: The Freedom to Read Foundation and the American Association of School Librarians: "Appellants argue that HB 900 is simply an innocuous mechanism to protect school children from 'sexually explicit materials.' The Association of University Presses; Barnes & Noble; the Educational Book and Media Association; Freedom to Learn Advocates; Half Price Books, Records, Magazines; the Independent Book Publishers Association; Penguin Random House; and Sourcebooks: "First, the mandatory ratings are classic 'compelled speech' in violation of the First Amendment. As the District Court held, [HB 900] impermissibly compels Amici to 'create speech that [we do] not wish to make, and in addition, in which [we do] not agree with,' in violation of the First Amendment.

The nonpartisan Government Accountability Office (GAO) has come to us requesting specific company information about how our members have been impacted since the Supreme Court decision in South Dakota v. Wayfair in June 2018. This study will go to Members of Congress and will help make the case for legislative relief from the punishing complexity, cost and liabilities being imposed on remote sellers. So far, several members of ACMA's Tax Committee have stepped up with their case studies, showing in detail the kind of financial hardship the Wayfair decision has had on their businesses. Please help with our goal being to get Federal legislation passed so you don't have more than dozens of states chasing after you for back taxes, audits, and other liabilities. Our help in this crucial GAO report will go a long way toward reaching this vital goal. Click read more below for important directions to share your input.

Meredith Corporation announced that early termination of the waiting period has been granted under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvement Act of 1976 applicable to its acquisition of Time Inc. As a result, Meredith plans to complete the transaction – first announced on November 26, 2017 – within the next 30 days, subject to satisfaction of the other terms and conditions of the tender offer. Meredith also announced that it intends to offer, subject to market and other customary conditions, up to $1.4 billion in aggregate principal of new senior unsecured 8-year notes (the "Notes"). Meredith intends to use the net proceeds of the proposed offering to fund a portion of its proposed acquisition of Time Inc.; to repay existing Meredith and Time Inc. indebtedness and credit facilities; and pay other fees and expenses related to Meredith's acquisition of Time Inc. and the related refinancing. Click Read More below for additional information.