Taxing “Life’s Essentials” is Just Plain Wrong
Let’s Eliminate ALL Sales Taxes on Food. Medicine, and Medical Appliances Permanently
Last year’s Illinois budget called for the temporary suspension of the state’s sales tax on groceries through June 30, 2023.
It was a good thing to do for the hard working people of Illinois help cope with inflation a bit. But, I don’t think that was good enough.
“Life’s Essentials” should never have been taxed in the first place. We can fix that.
1 in 9 children in Illinois face hunger and nearly 20% of Illinois residents said they’ve cut pills in half or skipped doses due to costs, while another 21% didn’t fill prescriptions due to costs.
Illinois is one of only 13 states that impose sales tax on groceries. Illinois is also the only state that taxes prescription drugs at the state level. Even worse, medical appliances such as crutches, canes, wheelchairs, walkers, braces and a number of other essential medical needs are taxed at the maximum sales tax rate where they are purchased, for example 10.25% in Chicago and not much less everywhere else in Illinois.
I have been working for the permanent elimination of state and ALL local sales taxes on:
- Basic foods such as bread, milk, cheese, baby food and formula, fresh meats, poultry, non-gourmet seafood, fish, fruits, nuts, vegetables, and other natural foods.
- All prescription drugs and non-prescription pain relievers such as aspirin, acetaminophen, and ibuprofen, cough suppressants, antihistamines, antacids, laxatives, and diarrhea remedies.
- Medical Appliances such as, but not limited to, crutches or canes, wheelchairs, walkers, and braces.
This is a statewide effort and so I can’t get it done alone!
I have started a PETITION TO ELIMINATE ALL SALES TAXES ON FOOD AND MEDICINE IN THE STATE OF ILLINOIS.
We will be listing the events at which you can sign our petition in-person soon. In the meantime, when you see our poster(s) at an event, please stop and sign.
We prefer that you sign our paper petition as it will have more impact on legislators but you may also sign our parallel petition on Change.Org below.
Your signature is very important in sending the message to our legislators in Springfiels that taxing “Life’s Essentials” is just plain wrong. The more signatures, the better change we have of getting these taxes replealed.
Show that you care. Send the message to Springfield!
If you don’t care, neither will the Legislature.
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