LITTLE ROCK — A House Republican is mounting a direct challenge to Gov. Mike Beebe’s plan to reduce the state sales tax on groceries by another half-cent.
Rep. Andy Mayberry of Hensley today filed House Bill 1389, which would cut the grocery tax a full penny from 2 cents to 1 cent. Earlier this week, Sen. Larry Teague, D-Nashville, filed Senate Bill 276, which would cut the grocery tax by from 2 cents to 1 1/2 cents.
Teague’s proposal is part of Beebe’s legislative package. Beebe, a Democrat, previously pushed through the Legislature reductions of the tax from 6 cents to 3 cents and then from 3 cents to 2 cents.
Beebe has said his goal is to eventually eliminate the food tax altogether. But he has also said there isn’t enough room in his proposed balanced budget for more than a half-cent food tax reduction this year, or for any other tax cuts.
To read the rest of the story, please go to: Arkansas News Bureau.
