A pair of local legislators wants to end the 'tampon tax,' but some say cost is too high

SACRAMENTO >> A state assembly committee delayed a plaed vote Monday that would have considered a bill to exempt tampons and sanitary pads from sales taxes.

The bill by Assemblywoman Cristina Garcia, D-Bell Gardens, to exempt feminine hygiene products being taxed has run into opposition, thanks to an estimated $20 million price tag. Monday’s plaed hearing on AB 1561 will be delayed until May 9 when the Assembly Revenue and Taxation Committee will consider several bills that have a high cost.

Garcia, who acquiesced to demands by the committee to put a sunset provision in the bill, defended the cost of her legislation.

“This is just one-hundredth of our state budget,” she said. “You’re talking about an inequitable tax. There’s lots of other ways to make up this revenue. It shouldn’t be on the backs of women.”

Garcia said her bill would expand social justice for women.

“We need to ask ourself if we, the state of Califoia, should continue to tax women on essential health items,” she said. “The answer I’ve heard is no. We shouldn’t be taxing women for being bo women.”

Assemblywoman Ling-Ling Chang, R-Diamond Bar, co-authored the bill. She said a tax on a product that only women use is inherently unfair.

“The govement is taxing women for something completely out of their control,” she said. “I’m aware of no other item that is an essential health need that is taxed.”

Dr. Jocelyn Young, a pediatric doctor, said the current law is unfair. She noted that certain health items aren’t taxed by the state.

“Walkers and Viagra are exempted in the Califoia tax code,” she said.

Young said taxes on health items for women, however, contribute to a much greater financial burden on low-income women and teenagers, for whom “feminine hygiene comprises a higher percentage of their total income.”

Dorothy Holzem, legislative representative for the Califoia State Association of Counties, opposed cutting the tax. She said she was conceed about the amout of tax revenue that cities and counties would lose — about $10 million — if the tax was struck down.

The issue of taxes on feminine products has spread far beyond just Califoia. From Canada to the U.K. to Malaysia, political leaders have repealed, reduced or are under pressure from activists to jettison the tax, Garcia said.

Many other states are trying to eliminate the tax. Five — Maryland, Massachusetts, Miesota, New Jersey and Pesylvania — already have done so, according to staff with Garcia’s office.

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