Reader comments
Food sales tax could be completely reinstated

How about cutting spending | 1:49 a.m. Oct. 9, 2009

How about reining in UDOT and not redoing every road in the Salt Lake valley every two years. The roads we have are good enough. Stop wasting tremendous amounts of money fixing roads that are fine. Improved transportation is nice, but if we can't afford it, do not do it.

Cut government spending drastically before you increase the sales tax on food. The sales tax on food is bourne on the backs of the poor.

Tax | 1:59 a.m. Oct. 9, 2009

Let's increase the cigarette tax 25 cents a pack, the tax on all liquor by 25 cents, the room tax on hotels by $1.00, add a penny tax on restaurant food and leave the food tax alone. It should be eliminated. I don't think any of these above taxes will stop anyone from partaking of those things or comiing to visit Utah.

Here in Germany we pay 7.5% on food and 19% on everything else. Food, however is much cheaper than back home. We may go into sticker shock when we go grocery shopping.

Anonomus | 4:09 a.m. Oct. 9, 2009

How about limiting the household income tax deductions to two children per household which would help the outstripped infra structure here in Utah.
How about the Mormon Church kicking in some big bucks for the homeless and unemployed people in this state.

Comments continue below

19% | 5:15 a.m. Oct. 9, 2009

"Here in Germany we pay 7.5% on food and 19% on everything else."

Is there income tax as well?

tax oxygen | 5:51 a.m. Oct. 9, 2009

I am waiting for the tax and spend Republicans of the state to realize that people should be taxed for breathing air. I don't mind taxing soda, candy and ice cream, but how in the world does taxing vegetables and healthy food not hurt.

Sam A. | 5:51 a.m. Oct. 9, 2009

Taxing the very food we eat to sustain life is immoral, just like EVERY politician. Cut government spending 700 million dollars before one penny is raised by taxing food.

Cut Wasteful Spending! | 6:01 a.m. Oct. 9, 2009

It's always easier to raise taxes. Real leaders will cut wasteful state spending. Utahs citizens are already taxed to the limit. WE WILL NOT ALLOW ELECTED LEADERS TO INCREASE TAXES AND KEEP THEIR JOBS!!

What a bunch of bologna | 6:07 a.m. Oct. 9, 2009

I can't believe how many people blindly buy in to the idea that the sales tax on food is a regressive tax and hits the poor unfairly.

1. What's the difference between food and anything else? It's just a commodity.
2. The rich pay a lot more in taxes on food because they buy a lot more food. That money that was generated from their purchases is used to fund programs that benefit the poor
3. As the article clearly explains cutting the sales tax has hurt the sales tax revenues which is part of the reason that the programs for the poor have been cut.

pete | 6:23 a.m. Oct. 9, 2009

How about reducing the deductions for children. I propose that todays deduction be allowed for the first 2 kids and nothing for the rest. Large families utilizes more "tax" resources such as schools and pay little tax. Funny, those who contatantly want to raise taxes on the other guy but dont touch me.

Ouch | 6:47 a.m. Oct. 9, 2009

To Tax,

What a great attitude. What's another quarter on this and that. What's a dollar on hotels. Wow.. with that attitude, why not increase it several dollars on hotels, and two bucks on cigarettes and liquor. I get tired of people "justifying" higher taxes. The answer isn't in taxing more, it's in spending less!

There is nothing | 6:51 a.m. Oct. 9, 2009

more permanant than a temporary tax. Remember the "temporary" flood surtax? It was eventually elminated, after we had no floods for a number of years. Other states that have enacted "temporary" surtaxes on the rich have found they don't make anywhere near what they expect. The rich simply make one of their homes somewhere else their official residence. The long term solution is to reduce government spending, permanantly. We need to get off the track off continuously growing goevernment.

Anonymous | 6:54 a.m. Oct. 9, 2009

"Tax" has some good ideas.

BobH | 7:25 a.m. Oct. 9, 2009

Did anyone on the legislative group ever think of the possibility of holding back on spending rather than raising ANY taxes?

Tax the Rich | 7:52 a.m. Oct. 9, 2009

The rich use more resources, so why shouldn't they be taxed more?

And, to those who think that bigger families pay less taxes, try housing, feeding, and clothing 4-6 kids. That's a lot of commodities which equals a lot of taxes. Income taxes are such a minimal part of the actual taxes we pay. Plus, those of us with large families are generating more future taxpayers. You just have to look at the long-term, and not the short-term here.

wallofvoodoo | 7:55 a.m. Oct. 9, 2009

It isn't a tax on the poor. There is no tax charged on food purchased with food stamps or WIC. It is a blatent atax on the middle class. Before they raise the food tax, they should look at cuts & other taxes that are not so regressive.

jon | 8:03 a.m. Oct. 9, 2009

Has every one forgot we had a revolution over taxes!! How about cutting corporate wellfare! How about putting wellfare receipients to work!! How about putting our folks who are out of work back to work! How about keeping jobs here in America! How about making anything right here in America! How about getting rid of regulations that hurt business and drives them over seas with our jobs! How about just saying no to all the pork projects politicians seem to profit from.
Lets not forget taxes are regressive and oppressive! Try cutting programs that dont work! Try cutting programs that are'nt needed! Try cutting the fraud waste and abuse that is rampant in all Goverment programs! Try paying for a program with current funds without a tax increase! How about thinking of the unintended concequences of these programs before we start them!

TAX FOOD! | 8:08 a.m. Oct. 9, 2009

This is the only tax that EVERYONE pays -- including illegal aliens. It's consumptive based, so it's fair. TAX food!

32 kids in a classroom | 8:12 a.m. Oct. 9, 2009

You that think Utah can cut more need to visit a classroom of 32 4th graders and no teaching aide. There are no easy cuts anymore.

Utah removed part of the sales tax on food when revenues were at an all-time high -- now the opposite has happened, an all-time low in lost revenue.

Let's reinstate the sales tax on food.

rvalens2 | 8:36 a.m. Oct. 9, 2009

Re: What a bunch of bologna

"What's the difference between food and anything else? It's just a commodity."

You're right ... food is a commodity.

But it's a commodity we can't live without. It isn't like a new sofa, TV or a car that can be put off for a few months or years.

Taxes ... especially ones on food, DO hit the poor more than the rich. $600.00 in yearly sales taxes won't even be noticed by someone making $100,000.00 per year. But to a poor person, $600.00 can be the difference between making the rent this month or getting kicked out on the street.

State governments need to rein in their profligate spending and find other ways to close their budget gaps.

I find it reprehensible that they would even think of doing it on the backs of the poor.

Hey Pete | 9:05 a.m. Oct. 9, 2009

You will be glad for those parents who were willing to raise more than 2 children when you rely on Social Security and Medicare. While many are delaying or avoiding having children for selfish reasons, others are foregoing travel, nice cars, eating out, etc. so they can pay for their children's clothes, food, music lessons, education, etc. It is YOU who will reap a disproportiate share of the benefits when that child is a full-grown, productive adult. Declining birth rates are the number one reason why Social Security is going bankrupt - there are simply not enough young adults to pay for all the benefits that we have promised to the baby-boomers.

Let go of your egocentric selfishness and thank a parent!

Hey Pete 2 | 9:08 a.m. Oct. 9, 2009

We should be encouraging larger families through tax policy and every other policy. Declining birthrates, particularly for the educated and wealthy, will have massive negative implications for this country. We should INCREASE tax incentives for higher income taxpayers to encourage them to do the difficult thing and raise an extra child.

Thanks to all the parents out there!

lost in DC | 9:12 a.m. Oct. 9, 2009

anon 4:09, the church spends millions in support of the poor. I'm sorry you are so ill-informed.

Plain Talk | 9:35 a.m. Oct. 9, 2009

How many times I have heard people say that what they really want in an elected official is that he or she would tell us the truth. "Don't pander or tell us what we want to hear." This elected representative is telling us the plain facts that are not popular and could even cost him his elected position. The State will not be able to plug a $700 to $800 million shortfall on cuts alone. This proposed increase in the sales tax is tempered by an effort to provide relief or an off set the impact to low income families and individuals. No wonder good people not want to seek elective office. What we really want, and what we say we want are extreme opposites. Congratulations Representative for having the guts to give us a dose of reality.

Get rid of Utah flat tax instea | 9:35 a.m. Oct. 9, 2009

Is it too much to ask that the food tax be kept at bay and the new Utah income flat tax go away instead?

In other words, keep the taxes that charge those most able to pay them.

Taxing food is most unfair | 9:39 a.m. Oct. 9, 2009

A food tax is one of the most unfair taxes. It taxes everyone the same, including those least able to pay.

There must be other alternatives.

Don't make the struggles of the least fortunate among us even more rigorous.

Utah Conservative | 9:41 a.m. Oct. 9, 2009

Taxing food is a good idea, taxing food won't place an undue burden on the well to do, and at the same time may help decrease the surplus population.

lost in DC | 10:07 a.m. Oct. 9, 2009

get rid of Utah flat tax, 9:35. It's interesting to note that RINO Hunstman bailed before the full ill effect of his touted flat tax could be felt.

Anonymous | 10:25 a.m. Oct. 9, 2009

Food tax is one of the worst taxes. Find other ways to increse revenue. Here is a good one: open up liquor sales to the free market, but increase the tax on it. Or increase the sales tax on non food items.

Fredd | 10:30 a.m. Oct. 9, 2009

Do people really believe having more kids will increase revenue? Your kids go to subdised schools, drive on subsidized roads, play in subsidzed parks. One person with a large family even said, "Income taxes are such a minimal part of the taxes we pay." Exactly, you have too many deductions. Utah income tax wasn't minmal when I lived there with my two kids.

Shelby | 10:43 a.m. Oct. 9, 2009

The food tax should heavily tax soda, alcohol, candy, and heavily processed foods while leaving produce untouched.

dave4197 | 11:00 a.m. Oct. 9, 2009

Sales tax on food is one of those ideas whose time has long gone away to the dungeons of the dark ages of ancient history. Let's hope the Utah legislature has a modern bent, not the ancient mindset that preserved Utah's sales tax on food way longer than almost any other state. Punch me if I'm dreaming about Utah's legislature being of age.

Anonymous | 11:01 a.m. Oct. 9, 2009

I see, I'm "selfish" because I don't have 10 kids? what a moronic statement.
If large families are going to gripe about the money they have to spend on raising their kids, then don't have that many! It's not fair that my taxes go to put your many kids through school and you don't have to pay your fair share-- it's a form of welfare isn't it? but this sort of "socialism" is ok because it benefits you, right? further, we are entering into a water crisis in the southwest, and other problems concerning the fact that there are not enough resources for exploding population growth in utah- very irresponsible... maybe you are the selfish ones...

Head Tax | 11:08 a.m. Oct. 9, 2009

Time for a Head Tax!

RedShirt | 11:53 a.m. Oct. 9, 2009

To those of you saying that people should not receive tax breaks for more than 2 kids, did you stop to think about where the money for your future Social Security and Medicare checks is going to come from? Your neighbor with the 6 kids may cost now, but later on in YOUR life, the Social Security and Medicare witholdings will be paying your in your retirement.

So, if you want to cut off the deductions for having more than 2 kids, are you also willing to cut your Social Security and Medicare benefits?

I have a better idea. What the State government needs to do is target a few businesses that are looking to move their headquarters and offer them huge tax breaks. If you get 1 company that spends 50 million on salaries, that will mean $2.5 million more in income tax revenues, not to mention the additional sales tax revenues and property taxes.

Rick | 12:02 p.m. Oct. 9, 2009

Utah has to balance its budget. Restoring the food tax to its full amount should be done. The tobacco tax could be raised to match neighboring states. The rainy day fund needs to be saved for next year as the economy could be in just a bad a shape then.

This is hilarious - | 12:23 p.m. Oct. 9, 2009

the conservative wholehearted "right to lifers" want to tax food as a method of cost/population control. I've always thought there was a bit of hypocrisy in opposing birth control and teaching abstinence, coupled with a total unwillingness to provide schools, health care, family counseling or support. What is hilarious is that you all do it with a total lack of personal awareness or - dare I use the term - personal responsibility

Anonymous | 12:27 p.m. Oct. 9, 2009

WERE DOOMED

To Freddddddd | 12:31 p.m. Oct. 9, 2009

You are obviously one of the glass-half-empty liberals. If you really beleive that an additional person is an additional weight on society, who do you suggest we eliminate first? I assume not you!

The reality is - if these "children" grow up to be productive adults, they will produce more than they consume as part of consumer and producer surplus (if you don't know what this is, go back to a basic economics text). In others words, you are better off because of their contribution to the whole.

The libs moaning about the additional "burden" of a child is ill-informed, uneducated or selfish - you pick.

Anonymous | 12:52 p.m. Oct. 9, 2009

Social Security will probably not exist by the time I retire. In any event, I have been building my own retirement plan so I will not have to rely on Social Security, if it's still around.

ill-informed liberal? | 1:21 p.m. Oct. 9, 2009

"The libs moaning about the additional "burden" of a child is ill-informed, uneducated or selfish - you pick." I reread all the posts. I didn't find anyone who I would consider the least bit liberal moaning about any of these things. It seemed to come from hard core conservatives who always think the behavior of "others" is the problem. For "others" you can substitute the victim of the day "blacks", "hispanics", "illegal immigrants", people of a different "ilk", "atheistic liberals", "koolaid drinkers". Have I missed any of your favorite catch phrases?

A Republican | 2:12 p.m. Oct. 9, 2009

Why does "lost in DC" think he/she has to right to label anyone a RINO? He/she is the judgmental one and it simply shows ignorance on his/her part.
I support Rep. Kay McIff's plan. I prefer to pay more in food tax rather than continue to dissect state government and public and higher education. Keep up the creative thinking.

randy | 2:28 p.m. Oct. 9, 2009

a food tax increase is the only way to tax everybody .. legal and illegal money (honest and dishonest) .. everybody eats .. everybody would be paying a tax .. gee what a concept

then you reduce the property owners and their increased taxes to offset the food increased tax (since more people in this state eat then own property the increase to state income would be beyond all belief in just a few years and more people would be paying for themselves instead of relying on others to be paying for them

to keep both taxes (food and property - NO ) .. too much tax being sucked out of the workers pockets to pay for the whims of utah state congress folks you reduce the property tax rates and increase the food tax rates ..

this should have been done decades ago ..

Good Tax/Bad Tax | 2:38 p.m. Oct. 9, 2009

There are two main type of tax, a good tax and a bad tax. The way to tell the difference is: A good tax is one that someone else has to pay but you don't. A bad tax is any tax that you have to pay. In this case a tax on food is generally considered to be a bad tax, because there is no way to get out of it. Everyone has to pay.

The problem is we all want the benefits that the taxes provide us. The same applies to the expenditures. Those that we benefit from are good, and those that we don't benefit from are bad. So, in a democracy the legislature is between a rock and a hard place. No one wants their ox gored, and they want to feed it forever.

Overtaxed | 4:33 p.m. Oct. 9, 2009

Utah is over regulated and over taxed as it is, why increase taxes any more than they already are? If you want to see a state in real trouble look north to Idaho, and then thank your lucky stars you live in Utah.

Disciples of Thomas Malthus: | 4:35 p.m. Oct. 9, 2009

Our future depends on more children. That's why child production needs to be incentivized. Who is going to carry the tax burdens chains we are forging right now? Future generations. That's why tax credits are important- to help insure that future generations exist.

Anonymous | 5:00 p.m. Oct. 9, 2009

Actual fresh food costs a much more than processed already. Shame on any government which taxes food and clothing.

Bob Healy | 5:47 a.m. Oct. 10, 2009

Perhaps the sales tax should be eliminated for restaurant food, fast food and prepared foods. I know the state of Ohio doesn't tax prepared food for consumption if you do "take out."
Another point is that alot of poor families do not always eat at home, but will eat in fast food places.
Why should they be taxed on prepared food especially if it is for take out? For consumption at home?
I say eliminate the sales totally on any food.

SRD | 8:36 a.m. Oct. 10, 2009

I know this will not be considered, but perhaps they should eliminate the corporate welfare that is currently on the books. I will guarantee that none of these exemptions will be discussed by the legislature. I suggest that they eliminate the following exemptions:

Sale of food and beverages sold to an airline for in flight consumption

Repairs and repair parts on aircraft used by common carriers

The sale of vehicles used by an authorized carrier in interstate commerce

Sales of property, materials or services used to construct a pollution control facility

New and replacement equipment used in a manufacturing facility in Utah

The sale of newspapers

The sales to farmers of certain equipment and supplies used in a farming operation

Equipment used in a steel mill

The sale of electricity to a ski resort used to operate ski lifts or tramways

The sales of certain equipment and repair parts to ski resorts

The sales of fuels for “Industrial Use”

Exemptions for movie and television production companies

Equipment used by a renewable energy company

Exemptions for equipment, parts and services purchased by telecommunication companies

Purchases by shale oil technology companies

Pete | 7:27 p.m. Oct. 11, 2009

Wow, And you think I am shortsighted. Those of the mindset that we need and EVERY INCREASING population are spending a tad too much time in church. Yes, I understand how SS and medicare are paid for. But there is certainly a better solution than more and more people. jeez

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