Kansans shouldn’t have to pay sales tax on food

Good for a coalition of groups, led by KC Healthy Kids, for calling on lawmakers to eliminate the state’s sales tax on food. Though the campaign is unlikely to succeed, given the state’s budget problems, it is important to raise this issue before lawmakers and the public. Kansas is among only 14 states that charge sales tax on food, and its 6.15 percent statewide rate is the second highest in the nation, trailing only Mississippi. Sens. Oletha Faust-Goudeau, D-Wichita, and Michael O’Donnell, R-Wichita, are seeking to phase out the sales tax on food over several years, though the budget shortfall and state income tax cuts also make that unlikely. – Phillip Brownlee

This story was originally published December 25, 2014 at 6:07 PM.