Tacoma lawmaker considers eliminating ‘tampon tax'

TACOMA, Wash. — Following similar moves in Canada and at least a dozen U.S. states, a Tacoma state representative told KIRO 7 she would like to introduce a bill to eliminate sales tax on feminine hygiene products in Washington.

Rep. Laurie Jinkins (D – Tacoma) said it is unfair to tax half the population for buying products that they have no choice but to purchase.

“It's particularly hard on women and children, because of the income inequality for women,” Jinkins said.

She said the state has nearly 700 tax exemptions for various reasons, on things ranging from Christmas trees to candy bars. Jinkins said she plans to revisit some of these exemptions to see if there is a tax that can be levied again in order to compensate for eliminating the tax on feminine hygiene products.

“We've chosen winners and losers, in a way that's just exacerbating inequity in our state,” Jinkins said.

While eliminating taxes on tampons and pads may not create perfect fairness, she said it would be a step in the right direction.

The sale of feminine hygiene products produces about $10 million a year in revenue for the state. Washington’s total budget is $35 billion.

California recently passed a bipartisan bill to eliminate the sales tax on feminine hygiene products, and it has been sent to their governor for a signature.

Female consumers in Tacoma said it would be a good idea.

“If we could avoid buying them, we could. But we can't. If you're pricing them high, and then taxing them high, it's not helping us,” said Fazema Wells.

Emily Seaholm liked the idea, too, but she also said, “I kind of become a skeptic as I get older. And I think that everything that sounds good - are we short-cutting someone someplace else?”

Jinkins said she would start the conversation about the details of the bill and how to make up for lost revenue during the next legislative session.

Cox Media Group