Senate unanimously approves grocery tax reduction

LITTLE ROCK - The Senate unanimously approved Gov. Mike Beebe’s proposed grocery tax reduction Tuesday, setting up an early showdown in the House, where leaders back an alternate tax cut plan.

By a 35-0 vote, the Senate endorsed Senate Bill 185 by Sen. Bobby Glover, D-Carlisle, which would fulfill Beebe’s No. 1 gubernatorial campaign promise by cutting the state sales tax on groceries by half, from 6 percent to 3 percent.

The new governor hailed the vote in the Senate, where he served for 20 years before being elected attorney general four years ago, as validation of the support he has said received statewide for the proposal during his successful run for governor last year.

“The unanimous senate vote to reduce the state grocery tax showed the statewide support for meaningful, responsible tax relief for all Arkansans,” Beebe said. “While I remain confident, we will continue working with the support of the Arkansas people toward making this historic tax relief a reality as this legislation goes before the House Revenue and Tax Committee.