Grocery tax still hard to swallow

Three things that make us uncomfortable:

1. Receiving registered mail from the IRS.

2. Getting a panicky phone call from the doctor’s office.

3. Realizing that we agree with Wayne Hoffman.

Hoffman is executive director of the Idaho Freedom Foundation, an organization that too often tars and feathers common sense with the star-spangled confetti of extreme right political ideology. IFF considers Heather Scott one of the finest legislators in Idaho. Need we say more?

Well, yes, we do.

We agree with Hoffman in calling for the Legislature to vigorously debate the pros and cons of eliminating the state’s 6 percent sales tax on groceries. Previous legislatures haven’t given the proposal so much as a full hearing in both chambers despite what appeared to be generally broad legislative support to kill the tax. And nobody seems willing or able to explain why.

Hoffman correctly points out that eliminating the regressive tax would instantly help many Idahoans struggling financially. He notes that Idaho’s system of requiring people to file for grocery tax credits actually costs the state about $1 million simply to process all that paperwork. And for what? This tax is collected and held until people file forms to get their small share of it back. It does nothing to help our schools, our infrastructure or anything else of societal value.

We checked in with several legislators from Kootenai County for their views.

Rep. Luke Malek says yes to the tax repeal — conditionally. “I would support a repeal so long as the repeal were part of a larger conversation regarding transportation and education funding moving forward,” Malek said.

Sen. Mary Souza said she’s in favor of either eliminating or offsetting the grocery tax for people in lower income brackets. However, she notes that recreational meccas like Coeur d’Alene would forfeit the tax dollars generated by summer residents, weekend warriors from Spokane and other tourists who buy groceries here. If we could keep their grocery tax dollars, that money could be distributed to Idahoans who need it most.

Rep. Paul Amador said the issue is more complicated than it seems. For example, he noted Idahoans who use food stamps already pay no sales tax on groceries, so our neediest group already is benefiting. But he added: “The last thing I want is for a government regulation (tax) to hinder or prevent the healthy nutrition of our most valuable resource in Idaho, our children and families.”

Fair enough. Bring on the debate, Idaho legislators.