Delegates debate food tax, bottle bill
February 19, 2009 ·
A bi-partisan group, including Delegates Barbara Fleischauer, D-Monongalia, and Bill Hamilton, R-Upshur, are trying to pass a bottle bill in the House. Another bi-partisan group wants to eliminate the food tax.
The bottle bill would put a refundable deposit on cans and bottles. Fleischauer says it would help promote tourism. Hamilton says it would be a first step in reducing litter on the highways.
Another bill introduced during the brief House floor session is the annual attempt by Republicans to abolish the state’s sales tax on food.
But this year delegate Delegate John Doyle, D-Jefferson, is a co-sponsor.
It is intended to be revenue neutral by increasing the tax on tobacco and beer, according to Delegate John Ellem, R-Wood, another bill sponsor.
Also, delegates discussed expanding early voting sites with new Secretary of State Natalie Tennant at her first House of Delegates budget meeting.