WLOX-TV - The News for South Mississippi: Governor Vetoes Cigarette-Grocery Tax Bill: "'People have to eat. People don't have to smoke,'' said Jennifer Cofer, division director of programs for the American Lung Association of Mississippi."
Albeit the above statement from Ms. Cofer was made in good faith and could be true in some rare instances, I found it to be ludicrous. People can also give up going to the cinema, on vacations, sending their children to private schools, paying their bills, filling vehicles with gasoline, trying their luck at gambling, and drinking alcoholic beverages. I do not advocate smoking but I do believe in freedom of choice and when it is "forced" , then others have chosen for you.
Republican Lt. Gov. Amy Tuck proposed the changes saying that the 7 percent tax on groceries is "cruel and regressive."
I agree with Governor Barbour on both issues creating a further financial burden on a state that is in recovery mode and will be for many years to come.
Thursday, March 16, 2006
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I just don't think it's a good time to reduce the tax on groceries. It's very true that everyone has to eat -- that's exactly why the grocery tax is sure to produce revenue for our state. "People don't need to smoke" -- and they probably won't if there is a ridiculous tax increase -- so how exactly would this tax fill the void another tax reduction would create?
The fact is that folks who would be in the worst position regarding affording their grocery bills each month -- are also eligible for the state food stamp program. They are not burdened by the grocery tax -- and lifting the grocery tax would not benefit them.
I'm uh.. saying all of this simply from the tax revenue perspective -- at a time when our state needs the income more than any other time since Reconstruction - and possibly the Depression. From a personal perspective I would love to see the grocery tax reduced or eliminated... Our kids eat a lot... and there are so many of them!! :) But now's simply not the time.
Why don't they compromise and allow us to claim a deduction for grocery tax on our state income taxes once again?
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