Thursday, May 8, 2008

Senate Rejects Attempt to Debate Plan to Remove Grocery Tax

A bill, sponsored by Rep. John Knight, D-Montgomery, that would remove the state portion of the sales tax on food, and remove the state deduction for federal income taxes failed to get enough votes to move on to full debate.

In a 20 to 11 vote (with three abstentions), the bill fell just short of the three-fifths majority needed to debate the bill.

The Senate could bring the bill back up, and Sen. Hank Sanders, D-Selma, who is handling the bill said he wants to bring it back before the Legislature adjourns May 19.

Sen. Larry Dixon, R-Montgomery, said the bill would shift a $345 million tax burden to 35 percent of the people and he is opposed to it.

"This could have been phased in under the unprecedented growth we've experienced in previous years," he said.


How they voted:

Sen. Del Marsh, R-Anniston, voted no.
Sen. Jim Preuitt, D-Talladega, abstained
Sen. Kim Benefield, D-Woodland, voted yes

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