Gov. Rick Snyder is urging the U.S. Senate to pass legislation that would allow Michigan to extend its 6 percent sales taxes to purchases from out-of-state Internet retailers.

Snyder sent a letter to senators this week endorsing the Marketplace Fairness Act, which would enable states to collect sales taxes from online retailers like Amazon and Overstock.com.

"By enabling remote sellers to ignore the collection of sales and use taxes, it provides them an unfair competitive advantage and threatens the viability of retailers throughout our communities, many of which are locally owned small businesses that reflect the unique character and culture of the Great Lakes State," Snyder wrote in a letter sent Monday -- and obtained Friday by The Detroit News -- to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky.

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