A study finds Missouri is missing out on nearly a half-billion dollars in revenue a year because it doesn’t tax Internet sales. Dr. David Valentine of the University of Missouri says that’s a conservative estimate. He says Internet sales continue to rise year after year, and so will the revenue Missouri is missing because it lacks a tax.

Valentine says Missouri could join a 24-state compact that now collects a so-called “streamlined tax” on Internet sales. Many Missouri lawmakers have already indicated they’re not interested in that.