Consider frenzy whipped

Declare the pennies on your eyes

“We could whip ourselves up into a frenzy if we don’t really relay that in the spirit that the motion is meant, I would assume.”

— Joyce Elliott, Arkansas state senator

TARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE HAT GROUP of lawmakers studying tax reform in Arkansas has been crystal clear. They’re only talking. We get it. Most everybody gets it. Which is why so many of those lawmakers were (figuratively) raising their hands and asking for calm this week and last. They’re a part of a research working group. Looking at taxes. Having a discussion. Naturally somebody would want to talk about the grocery tax. And the discussion will continue. Don’t get het-up, they seemed to be saying.

But het-up many are. Frenzied, too. The state has come too far over the last decade, lowering the sales tax on groceries to a bare minimum, to go back to the bad old days.

The Shame of Arkansas, it was called back then—when the state was lowering the boom on everybody who eats. Bread and milk were taxed as if they were no more important than a TV or new phone. Then a governor named Mike Beebe came along. He, along with the Legislature, brought the grocery tax down to 1.5 percent, where it stands.

After word came that this newly formed tax panel had voted to “study options” with the grocery tax, lawmakers raced to reporters to tell them it’s only talk.

For now, we’d add. Experience is a dear teacher, but some will learn from no other. And experience teaches that politicians like to spend other people’s money. And experience shows that, in the South especially, politicians like the sales tax. Because it’s a hidden tax. Nobody comes home and says, “I spent $95 at the grocery store for food, and the other $5 on taxes.” Nope. Instead, it’s: “I spent a hundred bucks on groceries.”

Oh, sure, there’s a place for sales taxes. A small place. Especially on items such as gasoline. Folks driving from Dallas to Nashville, and using our roads, should have to contribute to their upkeep. But in a perfect world, sales taxes would be minimal. And sales taxes on groceries would be negligible. Folks have to eat. Folks don’t have to have TVs or new phones.

Because the sales tax is also regressive—affecting poor people more than rich—some have suggested that the state could create some sort of refundable income tax credit to help out those still struggling, should the tax be raised again. But what about those not working? Or those in extremely low-income jobs? A once-a-year income tax cut or some sort of credit would be a poor substitute for those trying hard to make ends meet. Nice try, lawmakers.

But let’s not.

NOW LET us praise those who recognize shame when they see it, on both sides of the partisan aisle. Over on that side of the room is a Democratic candidate for governor named Jared Henderson. Over on the Republican side there’s a state senator named Jason Rapert. We have a hard time thinking they’d have a lot in common. But both have told the papers what they think about increasing the grocery tax. And we feel like most Arkies would agree with both.

This seems to be an issue that brings people together. Strange bedfellows and all that. The Jefferson County Republican Committee announced that it unanimously voted to oppose increasing the grocery tax. Another Democratic candidate for governor, Leticia Sanders of Maumelle, wants a constitutional amendment to exempt food.

The current governor, Asa Hutchinson, notes that reducing the tax is part of his budget. His GOP primary challenger, Jan Morgan, sees his bet and raises, telling the papers she opposes repealing any tax exemptions.

Well.

It seems as though this has been discussed, and written about, ad nauseam.

Winston Churchill, during a brief argument with a general named Eisenhower, once said all he wanted was compliance with his wishes, “after reasonable discussion.”

Reasonable discussion commencing. And after this discussion is all over— soon enough, let’s hope—we can get back to talking about other ideas. And dropping this grocery tax flap and doodle, balder and dash.