MIAMI (AP) - Gov. Charlie Crist is urging shoppers to take advantage of the back-to-school sales tax holiday.

The governor spoke in a Macy's department store in Miami on Thursday to promote the tax break, which lifts sales tax on school supplies priced less than $10 and books, clothing, footwear and accessories less than $50.

The tax holiday runs from 12:01 a.m. Friday to midnight Sunday, for the first time since 2007. The popular measure failed to pass in the state Senate the last two years because of tight budgets.

A representative from the Florida Retail Federation said the sales tax holiday actually boosts revenue for the state, because when people are out shopping for back to school, they end up buying other things that aren't tax-exempt as well.