This post was written by Brian Bieron, Executive Director, Global Public Policy, eBay Inc. It first appeared on the PayPal blog.

Enjoyed our interview with Cori from UPak on the software challenges of the Marketplace Fairness Act? This week, we wanted to bring you even more perspective from another one of our community’s small business owners. In this candid interview, Tony, owner of Fredrickson’s, discusses his fears regarding the Marketplace Fairness Act.

Last week lawmakers struck a deal to reopen the government and extend the country’s debt ceiling. The deal funds the government through January 15, 2014 and extends the debt limit until February 7, 2014. As part of the deal a joint conference committee of 7 House members and 22 Senators was formed. The committee has until mid-December to construct a 2014 budget. See below the full list of the Members on this committee:

Attendees, pictured above: Greg Leding, Derek Kawakami, Jimmy Higdon, Daniel Adams Eaton, John Mann, James Healey, Brian Kennedy, Deb Peters, Judi Buckley, Sammuel Sanes, Roger Freeman, Rosie Berger.

With the True Simplification of Taxation Coalition recently releasing a study addressing the challenges and costs associated with collecting sales tax under the Marketplace Fairness Act, we wanted to talk to one of our community members to get a real life outlook on some of the study’s claims. In this interview Cori O’Steen, owner of UPak, an online business selling packing and shipping supplies, reacts on the study’s claims.

A report critical of the Marketplace Fairness Act's small business exemption that was released last week by the Minority Media and Telecommunications Council garnered significant media attention.