Monday, September 26, 2011
Tax break for breastfeeders
Posted by Kandace Graves on Mon, Sep 26, 2011 at 12:02 PM
There are many benefits to breastfeeding: mother’s milk is the most healthful for the baby, there’s no mixing or heating (the breast is like a thermos for the baby), it’s always ready when you need it, it’s much cheaper than formula and — starting Oct. 1, women can save 4 percent on all their breastfeeding supplies.
The 2011 Louisiana Legislature passed Act 331, which exempts “breastfeeding items” from the state sales tax, which is 4 percent. The legislation does not exempt those items from local taxes. Breastfeeding items identified in the bill include nursing bras, containers for storing expressed milk, breast pumps, pump accessories and replacement parts. The bill does not exempt nursing pads, nursing pillows or bottles. See the complete list of eligible supplies at the Louisiana Department of Revenue website: www.revenue.louisiana.gov/breastfeeding.
Comments (1)
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Breastfeeding is wonderful and I encourage every able mother to breastfeed for at least 2 years. But I have to come down on the opposition on this one. How silly is it to think that even one mom will be swayed away from supermarket formula just because she will save 4% on the purchase of a few items of breastfeeding gear? Do we really believe that we can bribe people into virtue? Instead, I'd like to see the state spend a comparable amount of state money spent on education programs for women, their families and perhaps most of all, their employers. Because that's the real reason women don't breastfeed for very long: they go back to work and there's no support for breastfeeding moms in most work places. That's where the fix needs to be applied, not at the cash register.
Peace,
Tim
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