Status (overview) of bill:https://olis.leg.state.or.us/liz/2019R1/Measures/Overview/HB2122
Committee assigned to bill:https://olis.leg.state.or.us/liz/2019R1/Committees/HREV/Overview
This bill will define “groceries” for future tax purposes.
Personal Choice and Responsibility
By allowing a grocery tax, government is affecting the well-being and financial security of Oregon’s citizens, especially low income.
Fiscal Responsibility
A sales tax on groceries will grow Oregon’s government by the addition of new agencies to monitor a program of taxation.
Limited Government
There is no function of this tax that will improve society, it will only remove money from the pockets of citizens making them poorer. Most states exclude food from sales taxes as a necessity for life. Taxation of food banks is taxation upon donations to feed the homeless. Taxing farmers’ markets and prepackaged foods that go towards school lunches will increase the cost of school lunch programs.
Local Control
Taxing in local governments takes a vote of the people. A statewide piecemeal sales tax, it would take two-thirds vote by the legislature without referring the bill to a vote of the people.
Unbelievable – Why on earth would anyone consider a tax on FOOD? Everyone has to eat and this will be hurting EVERYONE in Oregon by taxing anything that becomes food; purchased or served.
Groceries and served foods are already more expensive thanks to the latest mandatory wage increases which are hurting our budgets now.
The food industry alone in the 5 counties of Multnomah, Washington, Clackamas, Yamhill, Columbia reaps millions of dollars in revenue according to a Report to the City of Portland Bureau of Planning and Sustainability [ with support from the PSU Institute for Sustainable Solutions and the Bullitt Foundation August 2015]
Quoting report:
“The food-related industry in the five-county region generates substantial tax revenue at the local, state, and national level as detailed in the table below(Table V.2).The fiscal impacts of the industry are estimated at roughly $666 million in revenues for the Oregon state government, $583 million for local governments,and over $1.34 billion for federal taxes.” (p. 40 https://www.portlandoregon.gov/bps/article/548390 NOTE: Table of total revenues for Oregon, local governments and federal)
The report shows how robust the food industry is. A Tax as proposed by the definitions in this bill, would be the burden of all Oregonians, the food industry will just add to the price of food! We all pay! Who is Greedy?
The sponsors of this nightmare will not be satisfied until we are all wearing barrels.