Democratic gubernatorial candidate A.J. Balukoff called yesterday for the Legislature to introduce legislation to repeal Idaho’s 6 percent sales tax on groceries. “The state is balancing its budget on the backs of working Idahoans every time they go to the grocery store and it’s time that stopped,” Balukoff said in a statement. “We should not be taxing people for putting food on the table.”

Balukoff said his stance is consistent with the view of the vast majority of Idahoans, citing the newly released Boise State University Public Policy Survey; it found that Idahoans favor eliminating the sales tax on food by a two-to-one margin over cutting state income tax rates.

 “I would urge all lawmakers in the state legislature to vote in favor of legislation that repeals the grocery sales tax and put more money in the pockets of our state’s working men and women,” Balukoff said.

Legislation to remove the sales tax on groceries passed last year, but was vetoed by Gov. Butch Otter; the Idaho Supreme Court upheld the veto. Idaho offers a refundable income tax credit of $100 per person each year to help offset the sales taxes Idahoans pay on groceries.