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California lawmakers introduce bill that would eliminate 'tampon tax'
Source: The Guardian
California lawmakers introduce bill that would eliminate 'tampon tax'
Anita Chabria in Sacramento, California
Friday 8 January 2016 01.32 GMT
Two California lawmakers have put forward a bill that would remove state sales tax from tampons and other feminine hygiene products.
“Menstrual hygiene is not a choice,” said Ling Ling Chang, one of the assembly members behind the effort.
Chang and her colleague Cristina Garcia are arguing that tampons, sanitary pads and other methods of handling a woman’s monthly cycle are medical necessities rather than simply hygiene products.
California tax laws, like those of many other states, are byzantine in their complexity. Currently, prescription medications such as Viagra are exempt from sales tax but discretionary hygiene items, which include menstrual products, are not.
“It’s called a hygiene product so I have people comparing it to deodorant and shaving cream, but it’s men comparing it to that. It’s not the same,” said Garcia. “The reality is when we get our period, that becomes a priority. Whatever money you have you are going to use for that. You can’t ignore it.”
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Anita Chabria in Sacramento, California
Friday 8 January 2016 01.32 GMT
Two California lawmakers have put forward a bill that would remove state sales tax from tampons and other feminine hygiene products.
“Menstrual hygiene is not a choice,” said Ling Ling Chang, one of the assembly members behind the effort.
Chang and her colleague Cristina Garcia are arguing that tampons, sanitary pads and other methods of handling a woman’s monthly cycle are medical necessities rather than simply hygiene products.
California tax laws, like those of many other states, are byzantine in their complexity. Currently, prescription medications such as Viagra are exempt from sales tax but discretionary hygiene items, which include menstrual products, are not.
“It’s called a hygiene product so I have people comparing it to deodorant and shaving cream, but it’s men comparing it to that. It’s not the same,” said Garcia. “The reality is when we get our period, that becomes a priority. Whatever money you have you are going to use for that. You can’t ignore it.”
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Read more: http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/jan/07/california-tampon-tax-assembly-bill-women-gender