According to Stateline.org shoppers in 15 states pay tax on groceries.  If 35 states have figured this out, why are the rest so far behind?  From the Register Herald:

Gov. Joe Manchin is taking a cautious approach to any further drop in West Virginia’s food tax but a Republican leader in the House of Delegates says a push is coming next winter for elimination of the remaining 3 percent.

As of July 1, consumers began paying 1 percent less in taxes at the market, reflecting the Manchin administration’s incremental method of cutting it since Manchin came to power in 2005.

“At this point, it’s hard to say exactly when we’ll be able to propose an additional reduction,” Lara Ramsburg, communications director for Manchin, said Tuesday.

“Certainly, our goal is to continue to reduce the tax. But we want to do it in a responsible way and every penny that we reduce it is $25 million to our base budget.”

House Minority Leader Tim Armstead, R-Kanawha, says the state can afford to fully drop the 3 percent tax on groceries, given its recent history of racking up end-of-year surpluses ranging from $200 million to $300 million.

“Instead of giving that back to the taxpayers, the leadership and governor continue to spend that money,” Armstead said.

Read the Rest…