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Rep. Jim Hackworth - House District 33
IMMEDIATE RELEASE April
4, 2007
House Democrats Propose Abolishing Sales Tax on Grocery Staples to Help
Working Families, Seniors
Tennesseans to Benefit from Zero Tax Rate on Milk, Eggs, Baby Food
NASHVILLE (Apr. 4) – The
House Democratic Caucus today rolled out a repeal of state taxes that
burden working families and senior citizens. A bill that abolishes
the sales tax on such grocery staple items as milk, eggs, and baby food
was advanced by the House Budget Subcommittee to the full Finance, Ways
and Means Committee for consideration.
If enacted, the sales
tax cut on these items would start Jan. 1. “We’ve wanted to
address our tax rate on food for a long time and I think this year we
will be able to make a difference for Tennesseans,” according to House
Speaker Jimmy Naifeh (D-Covington).
Democratic leaders plan
to allocate $23.3 million to fund the cut, based on estimates provided
by the Department of Revenue.
“We’re not giving folks
a discount on lobster, Perrier or Filet Mignon. This is an effort
to remove the sales tax on those items that families, working people and
the elderly depend upon on a daily basis,” explained House Majority
Leader Gary Odom, D-Nashville.
Added House Democratic
Caucus Chairman Randy Rinks, D-Savannah, “This is targeting those
households that need it most and provides a substantial break that will
offset the regressive nature of our sales tax on food. This is for
those that have infants and children to raise as well as those who are
on fixed incomes.”
CONTACT:
Kenneth Townsend, Press Secretary, House Democratic Caucus, at
615-741-6620 or
kenneth.townsend@legislature.state.tn.us.
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