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Lawmakers propose 2-day "back-to-school" sales tax holiday

The idea of a temporary sales tax holiday surfaces periodically in the General Assembly, and it's cropped up again.   This time, it’s two Democratic state lawmakers from northeast Ohio who are suggesting that a two-day state sales tax moratorium for back-to-school shoppers.

Under the bill, “back to school” clothing and school supplies priced under $100 and personal computers under $750 would be exempt from the state sales tax. Rep. Ron Gerberry (grr-berry) of Youngstown notes that there’s no state sales tax in Pennsylvania, so he thinks this could be very popular.

Gerberry:  You're gonna have a big push -- now, I know it's statewide, but you're gonna have a big push, especially on the borders.  but that's gonna be very...  And if you're asking me can we, the state of Ohio, afford a 2-day moratorium on sales tax for sales clothes -- I think we can

Gerberry and Rep. Matt Lundy of Elyria say there’s no way the bill could change this year’s school shopping season, but if it passes it could be in place for next year. However, Republicans dominate the House and Senate, and the bill has no Republican co-sponsors.  

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