ALEXANDRIA, Va. — Seventy state and national trade associations and more than 60 companies have sent a letter to the so-called Super Committee, urging that it clear the way for states to begin collecting state sales tax on Internet and catalogue sales.

Seventy state and national trade associations and more than 60 companies have sent a letter to the so-called Super Committee, urging that it clear the way for states to begin collecting state sales tax on Internet and catalogue sales.

The coalition, which includes such groups as the National Association of Chain Drug Stores, the Food Marketing Institute, the National Retail Federation, the Retail Industry Leaders Association, Safeway Inc. and Target Corp., says that failure to collect an estimated $23 billion a year in taxes for online and mail purchases puts brick-and-mortar stores at a disadvantage and threatens their competitiveness.

"As you seek solutions to address the federal budget, any final product will undoubtedly have an impact on the states, which are likewise facing their own budget crises," the retail groups and the companies said in their letter. "Congress has an opportunity to help the states resolve their own budget shortfalls by enhancing states’ rights over sales tax collection authority and in the process closing a loophole that will level the playing field for all merchants."