Will she, or won’t she? That is the question on the minds of Arizona’s cash-strapped consumers now that state lawmakers have sent a bill to Governor Katie Hobbs which eliminates a sales tax on groceries.
Removing the grocery tax would save hundreds of dollars per family. All the Democrats voted NO because they stated saving a family pennies would mean nothing. Proud to stand with my Republicans to remove the tax on groceries. 🇺🇲 pic.twitter.com/tHPuvQAf7t
— Rep. Leo Biasiucci (@Leo4AzHouse) March 22, 2023
The legislation, SB1063, sponsored by Sen. Sonny Borelli, “prohibits a city, town or other taxing jurisdiction from levying a transaction privilege tax (TPT), sales, use, franchise or other similar tax or fee on the sale of food and certain beverage items intended for home consumption.”
The taxing jurisdictions have opposed the otherwise popular bill, claiming that they cannot afford to provide basic services without those tax dollars.
When @GregStantonAZ was the Dem mayor of Phoenix, he hiked the food tax and claimed the revenue would be used to fund "public safety."
Instead, Stanton diverted the food tax funding to give his staff pay raises. It's a ruse, and voters know it! #AZLeghttps://t.co/uDFuRBiGEF
— Brian Anderson (@AZBrianAnderson) March 23, 2023
Supporters of the bill say the jurisdictions are making more money now than ever before as inflation has forced up the cost of nearly every commodity, many of which will remain taxable.
During the election cycle, Hobbs said, “I’m not going to say no to anything if there’s a way to provide relief for Arizonans,” when asked about the Republicans’ plan to eliminate the grocery tax.
However, after being in office a mere three months, Hobbs has already vetoed dozens of budget bills, some of which are needed to provide essential welfare services to Arizonans and avoid a shutdown of government.
Borelli’s legislation passed along a party-line vote on Wednesday and was transmitted to Hobbs for her signature soon thereafter.
The residents of the Phoenix Valley area are among the hardest hit by soaring inflation, and elderly residents on fixed incomes and young families have struggled to get by, with food banks seeing increasing demand.
Still, many expect Hobbs to veto the legislation after she vowed to deny Republican lawmakers any legislative wins.
“If this was about helping people Hobbs would sign the bill.” said a Capitol observer, “Then again, if this was about helping people, Democrats would have joined Republicans in passing the bill. This isn’t about people, its about politics, and Hobbs doesn’t want Republicans to get any good bills through that people would be happy with. She is already raising money for the 2024 election, so her decisions right now are purely political.”