If you have ever noticed the total at the grocery store to be higher than you calculated, that may be due in part to Alabama's grocery tax.
Alabama is tied with Mississippi for having the highest grocery tax in the U.S. at 4 percent.
For years, state legislators have debated the effects of the state grocery tax on citizens of different classes.
Katie Droyles, senior in English education, pointed out the effects the high tax has on low-income citizens.
"If you don't make a whole lot of money, the grocery tax is a huge chunk of your money that you could use to buy groceries or buy a car," Droyles said. "Alabama and Mississippi are the only states that put the full sales tax on groceries. Florida, for example, doesn't tax groceries at all, and there are some that do partial, but not a full, sales tax."
Droyles is a member of Alabama Arise, a nonprofit organization that promotes public policies to improve the lives of Alabama citizens.
"There's seven main policies that we are trying to get changed, but the one we're focusing most on is un-taxing groceries," Droyles said.
Rep. John Knight (D-Montgomery) proposed a bill to end the state grocery tax in 2009, which fell through. He reentered a new bill to overturn the state grocery tax this year.
Knight's efforts have been previously opposed by Republicans, because of the effects removing the tax would have on wealthy and middle income taxpayers and small business owners.
Droyles said the group does not have a political party affiliation.
"We're a bipartisan group. We're not crazy," Droyles said. "I'm pretty conservative, but there's a bunch of people in the group who are liberal. We're not part of a political party, but we love this state and we're trying to get some policies changed so we can make it even better than it is."
Hamilton Manifold, senior in nutrition dietetics, is the president of the Auburn chapter of Alabama Arise.
Manifold said they are a part of the parent organization Arise, under the umbrella of Alabama Arise.
Manifold said they work to make people aware of the tax issue.
"We are bringing awareness to campus, specifically that the policy affects low-income populations," Manifold said. "They really don't have a lot of a voice. Bringing awareness that there is a problem and bringing awareness to the way students can act in the solution is what we want to do. For example, calling their senators, writing letters and getting a lobby day.
"A lot of students and just adults in general have a concept that legislators are in Montgomery and are off-limits, but they are very open to talking to you and are willing and want to hear from you because they are representing us. It is easy to give them a phone call, email or write. They want to hear."
Sen. Gerald Dial (R-Lineville) has a plan to remove the grocery tax 1 percent a year over four years while increasing the state sales tax by .25 percent each year.
His efforts show some Republican opposition to the sales tax, but Knight has said he is opposed to replacing the grocery tax with higher taxes in other areas.
Alexander Pfeiffenberger, graduate student in electrical engineering, is also a member of the group.
"I was in Germany until I was 6 or 7," Pfeiffenberger said. "There's a big gap between the income equality that I saw in Germany versus what I see here. I grew up in a country where everyone gets a fair shot, versus Alabama where everyone in the state has the right to expect a democracy, but there's a lot of things that are limiting, such as the tax on groceries."
Pfeiffenberger has firsthand experience with tax breaks in Alabama.
"One thing that brought me to Alabama was that Alabama was giving a lot of tax cuts to come work here," Pfeiffenberger said. "The state wants to work with companies, (so) they'll play around with the tax structures. The state is willing to lessen the tax burden on corporations, but we also want to be aware of regular citizens."
Pfeiffenberger worked in Mobile before coming to Auburn for school.
"What brought me to this state is international commerce in Mobile. It's really good to bring industry to the state, but a lot of times people aren't willing to look at issues for low-income families who buy $200 of groceries and are almost taxed twice."
"The tax on these essential products are hurting low-income citizens and could be driving them to use programs for citizens below the poverty level and in turn cost the government more money and us more money as taxpayers."
Manifold emphasized the group is action-oriented, seeking an understanding between students and legislators.
"Legislators are bombarded with opinions all the time, but we believe this is the best option for helping all citizens in our state," Manifold said. "We want to encourage looking at things we may not have thought about before."
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