October 31, 2001

Sales tax holiday ... it's simply a gimmick

People just don't say, "I'm not going to buy that because of the sales tax."

Ohioans don't like to pay sales tax, but they usually ignore it unless they're buying a car or some other big-ticket item.

That's why the proposal to boost the economy, announced Monday by Ohio House Republicans, is more of a gimmick than a substantive idea.

They propose a sales tax holiday-- probably on Dec. 15 and 16 -- as a way to boost holiday sales and pump money into the economy.

But they would not include sales of cars and trucks, boats and food served in restaurants. Cars and boats are two of the products for which consumers do pay attention to the sales tax.

Saving 5 percent on some holiday purchases might lead a few people to the cash register. But in a season that probably will feature a host of sales to attract customers, it is doubtful that the tax holiday would translate to increased spending.

In this instance, the lawmakers may be trying harder to look like they're doing something than they are to find an idea that produces real results.