To the editor:

This is addressed to our state Legislature. As of Jan. 1, 13 states, Kansas among them, charge state sales tax on groceries. Thirty-two states, including the District of Columbia, exempt groceries from their state sales tax. On the other hand, Kansas, despite having enacted some progressive legislation in other areas, has time and again refused to remove the regressive tax on food.

Proponents for the tax have said that removing it would be “too complicated” and that it would cost the state too much revenue. These are not valid reasons. Other states, including New York, where I lived prior to moving to Kansas 23 years ago, have managed and it has worked well. As for loss of revenue, has it occurred to you that, especially in this sagging economy, where many people can barely afford to feed their family, they will not be spending their money on other taxable items? I, therefore, urge our legislators to make the food sales tax a priority in 2009.

Eva Edmands,
Lawrence