Tenn. House speaker proposes permanent grocery tax cut ahead of legislative session

From News Channel 9: The Tennessee House speaker is proposing a grocery tax cut to make the cost of food more affordable.

The measure follows a Democratic push for the same thing this legislative session after a similar proposal failed last year.

Cutting the sales tax on groceries is something shoppers can get behind, but the verdict is still out on which legislative proposal should move forward.

Blaze Sams doesn't fill his grocery cart because he said he's budgeting to make ends meet.
"I can't buy this amount of groceries. I have to sacrifice this," Sams said.

The price of groceries is high for people like Sams, who are trying to balance other expenses.

"Trying to make sure you aren’t unable to pay other bills like rent and gas and everything like that," Sams said.

Tennessee House Speaker Cameron Sexton is hoping to change that.
He's filed legislation to permanently cut the sales tax on certain groceries.

When asked whether the proposal would only apply to milk, bread and eggs, Sexton said it would include more items.

"It will be more than milk, bread and eggs obviously," Sexton said. "What it will be is if you look at food staples, you could see dairy, which includes milk, cheeses, yogurt, breads, well, you know, fresh meats, vegetables, and produce, or fruits."

Democrats are also proposing a grocery tax cut, but their legislation would put the onus on corporations. That legislation still has to be filed.

"It actually had corporations make up that tax so that we didn't lose $800 million of revenue annually," said state Sen. Heidi Campbell, D-Nashville.

Democrats introduced the legislation last year, but Republicans voted it down.

Sexton argues the Democratic proposal "would only increase the cost of living in our state and increase the goods."

Campbell says she can get behind Sexton's proposal as long as it benefits Tennesseans.

Sexton told FOX 17 News the money would come from the budget's surplus revenue.

"I mean, we, that's just moving money around. So we, you know, certainly have lots and lots of needs in this state that are gonna go unmet," Campbell said.

Sams doesn't mind either proposal as long as he and others can get some relief.

"I think that would help a lot of people," Sams said.

The legislative session begins in January.