Rauner approves repeal of sales tax on tampons

Illinois joined a handful of states and the city of Chicago in repealing a so-called "tampon tax" as Gov. Bruce Rauner approved a bill that exempts feminine hygiene products from the state sales tax.

Currently, tampons and sanitary napkins are taxed by the state of Illinois as "luxury items" at 6.25 percent. The new law, which takes effect Jan. 1, removes that tax by putting the products in the same category as necessities like shampoo.

Earlier this year, the Chicago City Council and Cook County commissioners voted to exempt the products from their sales taxes. The change comes amid a campaign by advocates for women's issues to end the tax in U.S. states and abroad.

"This is just the start of a conversation about the unfair 'pink taxes' women face as they buy products priced higher than similar ones marketed to men, or in this case, as they have to spend on products that men don't," said state Sen. Melinda Bush, D-Grayslake.

Read more: http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/politics/ct-bruce-rauner-tampon-tax-met-0821-20160819-story.html