What do you think?

By

Gerry Niskern

House bill 2158, sponsored by Rep. Shawnna Bolick, a Phoenix Republican, would exempt food intended for home consumption from being taxed by municipalities. Supporters of the bill argue that food is a necessity and should not be taxed. “Food is needed for survival”.

When I read about this new bill I thought immediately of the scenario that played out every two or three days when I was a kid. (Some of you may recall this story). My mother always gave me dime to run to the Bayless grocery store, across from the State Capitol, to get a loaf of  bread. I dreaded those trips.

“But mom,” I’d argue, “It is eleven cents. There is a penny tax. And the lady cashier gets real mad when I don’t have the penny for tax.” Mom would just say,” You just go right on over there and when she says it’s eleven cents tell her your mother didn’t give you the penny. Don’t those people know that it is a sin to tax the daily bread?”

That red headed cashier and I went thru the same stand off each time I went for a loaf of bread. She always finally relented and let me buy the bread after I was thoroughly humiliated. I’m sure I was developing a good moral character and strong fortitude, but I didn’t appreciate it at the time.

The new bill will affect small towns mostly because they need the tax on food for their tax base planning. Arizona’s three largest cities Phoenix, Tucson and Mesa don’t tax food. It was eliminated in the l980s.

House Bill 2158 has not been heard in committee yet, but I’m with you Rep. Shawnna Bolick. “It’s a sin to tax our daily bread.”

What do you think?