Connecticut Governor Lamont Changes Mind On Grocery Tax

It was just an idea — something that Governor Ned Lamont was just throwing around about a week ago. Now, the idea of a grocery tax seems to be dead in the water.

The whole idea of a two percent charge on groceries would pull in anywhere between $100,000,000 to $150,000,000 for the state. But after the backlash from the public and both Democrats and Republicans in Hartford, the Governor has decided it may not have been such a good idea after all. He has taken it off the table, at least for now.

When confronted about the tax turnaround, here's what Lamont told CT Post:

We have about a thousand different options we’re investigating and that's probably not in the top 50.

Even though Lamont has changed his tune a bit, the grocery tax was actually part of a bigger plan that looks to expand on goods and services, which is covered by the $4.2 billion-a-year sales tax. That tax is the states second largest behind personal income tax.

So we now know there won't be a grocery tax in the near future, but you can't rule it out completely as we head down the road. There is some talk that instead of a full grocery tax, Lamont may recommend a tax on certain grocery items like non-prepared foods. Stay tuned.