Oklahoma
State Senate
Communications Division
State Capitol
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73105
For Immediate Release: March 4, 2009
Sen. Mike Mazzei
Senate Approves Measure to Eliminate Grocery Tax
The State Senate has approved a measure to eliminate
the 4.5 percent state sales tax on groceries. Sen. Mike
Mazzei, R-Tulsa, is the author of Senate Bill 318. Mazzei
said the bill would phase out the grocery tax over a five-year
period. The bill passed on a bipartisan vote of 38 to 8.
“We’re only one of about 16 states in the country
that charges this tax. This is something we really need to consider
for our own citizens,” Mazzei said. “Furthermore,
this is money that families and individuals will put right back
into our economy in other goods and services.”
Mazzei, who chairs the Senate Finance Committee, said city and
counties would still be able to collect taxes and groceries, protecting
resources for the services and programs they provide to citizens.
“This measure would benefit every single person in our state.
I believe that as we work to increase efficiency in government
and grow our economy, this is a realistic proposal that we need
to continue working toward enacting,” Mazzei said.
The measure now moves to the House of Representatives for further
deliberation.
For more information contact:
Sen. Mazzei's Office: 405-521-5675
