The New York State Senate passed Bill S6726 today, which exempts menstrual products, such as tampons and sanitary napkins, from being taxed. Governor Andrew Cuomo is expected to sign the bill into law, as he recognizes that these products are a medical necessity for many and shouldn’t be considered “luxuries.”
This comes after five women sued New York State over a 4% sales tax on these items. The tax deemed menstrual products as “luxury items,” despite the fact that products like foot powder, dandruff shampoo, chapstick, facial wash, adult diapers, and incontinence pads are considered “medical items.” You can see why women might be upset that the only products deemed “luxuries” are ones that aren’t used by men (with some trans men being the exception).
So, this is great for New York State, as they join Maryland, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Minnesota and New Jersey in getting rid of this inane tax. However, there are still forty states that tax tampons and pads.
Well, like the song says about New York, if you can make it there, you can make it anywhere! It’s time to get cracking on fighting this discriminatory tax wherever it exists. People who buy tampons and pads currently pay around $14 million in taxes on these products every year. This. Is not. Okay.
(via Buzzfeed, image via Kate Raynes-Goldie/Flickr)
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