THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, October 6, 1996 TAG: 9610030023
SECTION: COMMENTARY PAGE: J4 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: 22 lines
On July 1, the sales tax on nonprescription medicine was to end. Instead, the state extended the date for termination to July 1998. If the legislature had allowed this tax to expire, it would have taken a step in the right direction. Perhaps, then, the legislature would have moved to eliminate sales tax on groceries, also.
Instead, Virginia continues to tax the essentials for human life and health - nonprescription medicine and groceries, including bottled drinking water (even in those areas where water-treatment plants fail to deliver healthy potable water to the citizens).
Why is the state in the business of taxing the essentials for maintaining life and health? In any civilized society, these indispensable products ought to be beyond the long reach of the state's taxing arm.
MARY D. MINELLA
Chesapeake, Sept. 24, 1996 by CNB