New Mexico legislators on Wednesday debated eliminating the state鈥檚 sales tax on so-called feminine hygiene products, like tampons and pads. have reduced or eliminated these taxes, and in the U.S. have done away with them, too.
People who menstruate shell out an estimated per year in New Mexico on these products. Rep. , a Democrat from Albuquerque, is co-sponsoring a to do away with the sales tax on tampons, pads, menstrual cups, etc.
"There are a lot of women to actually buy feminine hygiene products," she said. "They鈥檒l wear one particular product for the whole day. It鈥檚 a health issue as well."
members from both political parties pushed back, saying that adding more exemptions to the tax code means less money for the state and higher sales taxes on other products.
"We are punishing women and females for something they have no control over," Trujillo said. "And I believe that they should be given a reprieve on a tax for what I believe is a necessity and not a luxury."
Some argued about the definition of necessity, and about whether a tax on these products constitutes a gender bias.
Eliminating the tax would cost the state an estimated $1 million per year, and local governments $650,000.
The committee is temporarily tabling this and all proposed changes to taxes until there鈥檚 a state budget to work with.
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Check out the full audio of the House Taxation and Revenue Committee members considering the measure to eliminate a tax on feminine hygiene products.
