Senate votes to dump grocery sales tax

In a showdown on the floor of the Idaho Senate, backers of removing the state’s 6 percent sales tax from groceries successfully held off a series of amendments proposed by the Senate’s top GOP leader.

“This is a matter of equity. I think it’s a matter of fairness,” said Sen. Cliff Bayer, R-Boise, who led the grocery-tax repeal effort – and earlier announced that he had 48 co-sponsors among Idaho’s 105 legislators. “Its timing is right. It has support.”

Backers of the grocery-tax repeal had been unable to even get a hearing for their bill in the House Revenue and Taxation Committee, as House GOP leaders favored income tax cuts instead.

Sen. Shawn Keough, R-Sandpoint, voted in favor of the grocery tax repeal, though she said it was tough to vote against her party leadership/ Betsy Russell , Eye on Boise. More here.

Question: Anyone out there think we should keep the 6% sales tax on groceries?