Maine Law Students Suing to Get Tampon Tax Refund

The bill to take away the so-called 'tampon tax' in Maine has been sitting in limbo for almost a year!

A bill was proposed into the Maine legislature to remove the tax on feminine products. Or LD 286, An Act to Provide a Sales Tax Exemption for Feminie Hygiene Products. The bill has not reached the Governor's desk and is sitting on the Special Appropriations table.

Basically, what that means is that since it is taking a tax AWAY, they have to figure out a way to fund this bill...and well, they just haven't.

To push this along, a group of Maine law students sued to get a refund of their 'tampon tax'. They were denied...but are appealing the decision.

They argue in general:

• The sales tax on menstrual products is unconstitutional because it targets only those who, well...mentruate.
• It's unfair, because on average, women use more tan 16,000 tampons or pads in a lifetime.
• The American Medical Association deems menstrual products medical necessities and has called the tampon tax a 'regressive penalty'.
• Low-income women could be forced to choose between buying menstrual products and other necessities.
• Maine isn't collecting a ton of money on this. About 900,000 annualy, that's less than .01% of Maine's total revenue.
• If Maine got rid of taxes on things like prosthetic aids and bibles, they can do this too.

This has bipartisan support - come on Maine! Do the right thing and get rid of this incredibly stupid tax!