On Wednesday, Florida Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis announced a budget proposal that would include permanent “sales tax exemptions on all baby necessities like strollers and formula, pet meds and even the embattled gas stove.” The governor’s “Framework for Freedom” for the states budget proposes four permanent sales tax holidays totaling $1.5 billion as DeSantis looks to ease the financial strain on raising children. “It’s hard enough raising kids as it is,” DeSantis said at the Florida State Capitol. “Now, you get baby food, diapers, wipes, baby clothes, the whole shebang, including things like cribs and strollers, which are very, very expensive. So that is going to be permanently tax-free in the state of Florida. We’re also doing a permanent exclusion on all over-the-counter pet medications, because they’re parts of our families, too.”

“And then we just added, because I think it needs to be done, no tax permanently on gas stoves,” he continued. “They want your gas stove, and we’re not going to let that happen.” DeSantis acknowledged that electric stoves are more popular in Florida but says ‘it’s the principle’ of the government going after gas products. On the other hand, Democratic cities across the nation have already moved forward gas appliance bans even as the Biden administration has talked back their original ban. A new poll “found that most Democratic voters would welcome a ban on natural gas hookups in new construction and buildings located in their own communities.”

According to Fox:

DeSantis’ proposal also includes more than 10 temporary sales tax exemptions on items like children’s books and toys, children’s athletic equipment, certain household items and clothing, disaster preparedness items, outdoor recreation items, dental hygiene products, pet food, hand and power tools, Energy Star appliances and natural gas.

“We’re also doing one-year sales tax holidays for household items under $25,” the governor said. “And so that’ll be everything from detergent, to trash bags. These are necessities, and people are going to be able to get those tax-free.”

The governor’s proposal is a framework, but the Republican-led legislature will craft the budget and he can then slash what he wants from it.

 

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