BREAKING: Katie Hobbs VETOES GOP Bill Eliminating Food Tax Amid Skyrocketing Inflation After Claiming “I’m Not Going to Say No to Anything If There’s a Way to Provide Relief for Arizonans”
Katie Hobbs on Tuesday vetoed the GOP legislature passed SB1063, titled, Food; Municipal Tax; Exemption, which would eliminate the grocery tax across the state, saving Arizonans money amidst the ongoing inflation crisis.
Senator Sonny Borrelli, the bill’s sponsor, told The Gateway Pundit, “she would rather have windfall taxes go to cities on the backs of people that need to survive on essential items like groceries consumed at home.”
Arizona Senate Republicans released a statement condemning Hobbs’ “unwillingness to help Arizonans amid crippling inflation.”
Governor Continues Unwillingness to Help Arizonans Amid Crippling Inflation
PHOENIX, ARIZONA- Senate Republicans share their extreme disappointment after the governor vetoed another tax cut bill that would have put more money back in hard-working Arizonans pockets while the cost of living remains historically high. Last month, the governor vetoed SB 1184 which would have eliminated rental tax, and today she vetoed SB 1063 which would have eliminated sales tax on groceries.
Over the past year, food prices have skyrocketed between 15% and 45% on many items Arizonans rely on to feed their families. Data shows that a family of four on a low-cost grocery budget currently spends about $1,000 per month on food. Right now, 65 cities and towns within Arizona levy a sales tax of up to 4% on food for home consumption.
“This veto is a disgraceful windfall for cities and an absolute gouge for families,” said Majority Leader Sonny Borrelli who sponsored the bill. “We’re not only paying inflated prices to feed our families, but we’re also paying more in taxes as the cost of food rises. Food is not a luxury; it is a necessity. A tax on our groceries is regressive and hurts everyone. Over the next four fiscal years, cities and towns are estimated to receive an average of $2.3 billion per year in state-shared revenues, which is an increase of S844 million more than the average for the last four fiscal years. And yet the governor vetoed this bill, only padding cities’ bloated budgets instead of leaving more money in the wallets of hardworking taxpayers.”
“Senate Republicans have been working toward introducing legislation necessary to provide financial relief to all Arizonans, especially low-income families who are feeling the tremendous burden of inflation,” said Senate President Warren Petersen. “It’s very clear the governor has no interest in helping with that financial burden.”
The Majority Caucus will continue our mission to reduce costs for food and housing.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Governor Continues Unwillingness to Help Arizonans Amid Crippling Inflation ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/qwOJSxorOH
— AZSenateRepublicans (@AZSenateGOP) March 28, 2023
The Gateway Pundit reported earlier that Hobbs was expected to veto this bill, as she did with the rental tax repeal, to stick it to Republican Lawmakers.
Kari Lake, who campaigned on cutting taxes and fighting inflation, tweeted that she would sign this legislation immediately.
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