Oklahoma Republicans and Democrats push to end grocery tax
TULSA, Okla. (KTUL) — Would you like to save money at the grocery store?
State representatives on both sides of the aisle are pushing to make that a reality.
The Oklahoma legislative session kicks off in less than a month and both Republicans and Democrats submitted bills seeking to end the grocery sales tax.
State Representative Melissa Provenzano, D-District 77, said if the bill gets emergency approval, we could see grocery bills go down by this summer.
"You know right now with inflation due to the pandemic, it's affecting every single Oklahoma family," Provenzano said, "And it's going to leave more money in your pocket."
Right now, Oklahoma has a 4.5% grocery sales tax.
The majority of states across the country don't have a grocery tax and Oklahoma's is the fourth highest of those that do.
"It's looking like to the tune of at least up to $250 million that stay in the pockets of Oklahoma families," Provenzano said. "And that gives you more buying power at the grocery store so you can make your dollars stretch farther."
First, it has to make it through the legislature after the session begins on Feb. 7.
But seeing as there's a bill introduced by Democratic Representative Emily Virgin and Republican Sean Roberts, the odds look good.
"This idea has legs and we're looking forward to working on it together with the Republicans," Provenzano said.
Rep. Roberts, R-District 36, said in a press release, "We currently have a surplus in funds and revenues are up, so now is the time to bring this much-needed relief to Oklahoma families."
According to Virgin, the difference between her bill and Roberts' is that his calls for a vote of the people and hers does not.
Democrats said this tax cut would be more beneficial than the cuts to income taxes and corporations that the state recently pushed through.
However, some Oklahomans feel that if one tax goes away, they will get taxed more on other things.
"I don't see that happening," Provenzano said.