Thumbs up to the call by U.S. Sen. Mike Enzi, R-Wyo., and other senators from both sides of the aisle who asked Congress to take up the Marketplace Fairness Act issue this year.

While we’d all prefer to not pay sales tax on our purchases over the Internet, the fact is, that gives an unfair advantage to online businesses over brick-and-mortar establishments that must collect sales tax. Those local businesses have invested in their communities and contribute to the state’s economy.

States that charge sales tax on goods have been working together for nearly two decades to come up with a way to implement sales tax collection on customers’ purchases over the Internet without placing an undue burden on online merchants.

Truth be known, according to Wyoming law, we already owe sales tax on the goods we buy via the Internet. But few people take the time or the money to pay that tax to the Wyoming Department of Revenue.

The Marketplace Fairness Act passed the Senate last year with a bipartisan vote of 69 senators.

The legislation would “restore states’ sovereign rights to enforce state and local sales and use tax laws,” Enzi said. It “would allow states, if they choose to do so, to have out-of-state retailers collect the sales tax that is due on all sales — online sales, catalog sales and in-store sales.”

U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., put it this way: “I don’t think ... states should have to play ‘Mother May I’ with the federal government when deciding whether to collect, or not collect, a state tax that is already owed.”

Thumbs down to people being injured and killed in recent crashes on area roads and highways.

Spencer Boone, 21, of Cody died Tuesday as a result of a crash between a car and an ATV in Cody.

Joel Johnson and Kyle “Brock” Ninker, both of Powell, each face lengthy hospital stays and even longer recoveries. Johnson’s pickup was struck June 8 by another driven by a man who ran a stop sign north of Powell on Wyoming Highway 295.

Ninker lost control of his motorcycle near Meeteetse on June 6.

In addition, a highway patrol officer also was injured in the region.

Wyoming Highway Trooper Rodney Miears’ patrol car was struck Monday by a commercial truck hauling a trailer when the truck’s driver turned in front of Miears on the North Fork Highway.

We’re also thankful that Miears’ injuries were not life threatening and he will be able to resume his patrol duties after a few days.

On the other hand, we give a thumbs up to Johnson’s and Ninker’s families and friends, who have rallied to support them and to raise money to help with their medical costs.

Updates about Johnson’s progress and opportunities to help with his medical bills and his family’s expenses are available at www.caringbridge.org/visit/joeljohnson2.

To help Ninker, visit www.gofundme.com/wf69d6x.

Thumbs down to a Virginia couple for having to be rescued Monday for a second time while seeking “treasure” in the North Fork area. This time, the rescue of Frank Eugene Rose and Madeline L. Taylor was necessary because Taylor broke her ankle. In 2013, it was because the couple got lost and disoriented in the back country. 

Both rescues required mobilization of the Park County Search and Rescue Team, which came to the couple’s aid with the use of costly equipment. On Monday, that included a helicopter used to airlift the woman to a Billings, Montana, hospital for treatment.

We agree with Park County deputies who “strongly recommended that Rose and Taylor not return to this area without proper training in environmental survival skills.” They also warned the couple that they would be arrested for trespassing if caught on private property in the future.

Meanwhile, we raise our thumbs to the Park County Search and Rescue Team, the Park County Sheriff’s Office and others who responded to the couple’s need for help. The Search and Rescue Team trains regularly, and its members put their own safety on the line and give up time with their families to save people from life-threatening situations. We’re thankful the team is skilled, dedicated and available when needed.