Plantation Mentality Not Gone in Arkansas but Grocery Sales Tax Reduced

Bill Smith: Plantation mentality is not gone in Arkansas but today one step was taken toward removing this archaic mantle from our state. Today, Gov. Mike Beebe signed the bill that will cut the state’s 6 percent sales tax on groceries down to 3 percent. The law takes effect July 1. The Senate had unanimously voted for the reduction.

In early January, Governor Beebe acknowledged that the state has a moral charge to eliminate the state sales tax on food. He said the tax is the most regressive tax in Arkansas. Despite his paying lip service to cut the grocery tax during his 20 years in the state Senate, and his having fought against efforts to eliminate this very tax, Beebe was forced to consider this subject by both his opponent in the gubernatorial race and the public outcry over the excessive state surplus created by excessive taxation. Beebe adjusted his campaign and said he would work to "phasing out" the six-cent state sales tax on groceries.

While commending Governor Beebe for asking legislators to phase out the tax with a 50 percent cut...three cents from the six-cent tax, we must now ask the Governor for his timetable to ask for the remainder of the states sales tax on food to be eliminated. We call upon the legislature as well to eliminate the reminder of this regressive, oppressive and offensive state sales tax on the groceries.

In addition, it is time the counties and cities to do the same. Even with the current 3% reduction many people will still be paying over a 5% tax to buy their groceries across the state. It is time for government agencies (be they city, county or state) in our state to eliminate the plantation mentality of taxing people's basic human needs. Stop this abominable grocery tax!

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