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Some lawmakers call for special session to eliminate 'food tax'

Kealey Bultena
/
SDPB

A proposal to end the state's sales tax on food has been championed by legislative Democrats and is finding traction among Republican lawmakers.

Eight Republican legislators are calling for a November special session to eliminate the food tax.

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Rep. Jamie Smith has sponsored a legislative proposal to ban the tax.

Now it’s become a campaign promise from Republican incumbent Kristi Noem.

A last-minute proposal to end the food sales tax passed the House last session but failed in the Senate.

Lawmakers calling for the session want to act now because of inflation and rising gas and food costs.

However, other Republican lawmakers want to see more data before committing to the idea.

A special session requires a call from either the governor or two-thirds of each legislative chamber.

Lee Strubinger is SDPB’s Rapid City-based news and political reporter. A former reporter for Fort Lupton Press (CO) and Colorado Public Radio, Lee holds a master’s in public affairs reporting from the University of Illinois-Springfield.
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