Think about Jim Gilmore, who famously rode three syllables—“No Car Tax”—into the governor’s mansion back in 1998. Sometimes, as with the car tax, repeal is easier said than done. Sometimes, as with the car tax, the cuts seem more for the benefit of the haves than the have-nots.
Our incoming governor is bucking that trend, at least in one category. Gov.-elect Glenn Youngkin says he wants to get rid of the grocery tax. That’s a move many hard-pressed parents trying to feed their families can get behind.
Virginia is one of 14 states that impose a tax on groceries. The tax ranges from 7 percent in Mississippi to a why-bother 0.125 percent in Arizona. Our rate is 2.5 percent (state sales tax is 5.3 percent). Eliminating the grocery tax would save you $3.75 on a $150 bill.
