Grocery Tax Cut Questioned

Alabama Mississippi States split over need to help consumers and their own need for tax revenue

by Michael Snowden

Published: Fri, March 13, 2009 - 9:34 am CST Last Updated: Fri, March 13, 2009 - 9:36 am CST

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - States looking to cut grocery taxes are
running into a serious obstacle: their own desperate need for
income amid the recession.
In Alabama and Mississippi, the issue comes up nearly every year
but has yet to overcome opposition from Republicans, despite their
general support for tax cuts.
The vast majority of states either don't tax groceries, tax them
at a lower level than other purchases or offer a credit to offset
the tax for some residents.
Alabama Arise, an advocacy group for the poor, estimates that a
family of four in that state typically pays $468 a year in grocery
taxes.
Alabama lawmakers are looking at two proposals for cutting the 4
percent tax.
45 states levy a general sales tax, but 30 exempt food to be
eaten at home. Other states tax groceries at a lower rate or offer
credits or rebates, primarily for low-income taxpayers. Only two
states - Alabama and Mississippi - apply their full state sales tax
to groceries without relief for low-income families.
The Grocery Manufacturing Association said it supports the
concept but has not actively campaigned for the cuts.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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Wait4Me Says:

Fri, Mar 13, 2009 at 10:05 am

“All zoos actually offer to the public in return for the taxes spent upon them is a form of idle and witless amusement, compared to which a visit to a penitentiary, or even to a State legislature in session, is informing, stimulating and ennobling.”
H.L. Mencken

bobcat Says:

Fri, Mar 13, 2009 at 10:03 am

I think that’s part of the sewage cost already added on our utilities. And isn’t that taxed?

Wait4Me Says:

Fri, Mar 13, 2009 at 10:01 am

“The politicians don’t just want your money. They want your soul. They want you to be worn down by taxes until you are dependent and helpless. When you subsidize poverty and failure, you get more of both.”
James Dale Davidson

Razorsharp Says:

Fri, Mar 13, 2009 at 9:55 am

I think they should tax the tax we pay in taxes. Then, they should tax us some more so that they can triple tax our tax that we already pay taxes on. The politicians just don’t have enough money, right? They need more of our tax dollars to do “stuff” with…right? Maybe if they over tax us, they could tax the over tax and add another tax to that so that they would be sure to get more tax. It’s a very taxing situation. Hey, they could even charge a consumption tax on your groceries after you eat them…this way they would be sure to get MORE TAX.