Menstrual health products available for students at the Appleton Area School District February 15, 2023. PC: Fox 11 Online
APPLETON, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — A bipartisan effort aims to introduce legislation eliminating the “pink tax” statewide.
Rep. Snodgrass (D-Appleton) along with Sen. Rachael Cabral-Guevara (R-Appleton) and members of Women’s Fund and Monthlies Project, spoke Tuesday on the importance of passing legislation removing tax on menstrual products.
Wisconsin’s standard 5% sales tax currently applies to all menstrual products.
Supporters of the proposed legislation say the “pink tax” on menstrual products is unfair, regressive, and discriminatory.
“Menstrual products are not optional; they are essential for health and hygiene and quality of life. In Wisconsin, approximately 11% of women and children live in poverty and many individuals, particularly low-income women and families are forced to choose between purchasing menstrual products and other basic necessities, like food or medication,” Snodgrass explained.
If passed, between $3.6 to $4.8 million of state revenue would be lost, which equates to about .02% of Wisconsin’s budget.
“But I will caution Wisconsin is that there is a group period law out of New York and they have successfully sued states who still have this tax because it is constitutionally discriminatory so if Wisconsin doesn’t do something too, they might be forced to do something in the courts,” Snodgrass said.
More than 30 states have introduced and passed this piece of legislation.
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