Democratic state leaders are pushing for a new tax break that they say could save women hundreds of dollars on feminine hygiene products.
House Democrats say the sales tax on feminine sanitary products can cost the average woman up to $200 a year. They’re proposing a bill to eliminate the tax on tampons, pads, menstrual cups and other similar products.
Representative Greta Johnson of Akron says this can relieve financial burden on women without making a huge dent in state revenue—at least that’s how Johnson sees it—comparing it to tax breaks conservatives are pushing in the budget.
“It’s minimal compared to what the state is losing as a result of the tax cuts to the wealthiest Ohioans and energy manufacturers that are in the budget currently,” Johnson says.
A similar tax break already exists in Maryland, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Minnesota and New Jersey.