Keisha Lance Bottoms says affordability will be a top priority in Georgia governor bid
TheGrio...
The former Atlanta mayor says her proposal would give local governments flexibility to reduce sales taxes on necessities like groceries and diapers.
Former Atlanta Mayor and Democratic gubernatorial candidate Keisha Lance Bottoms says affordability will be one of her first priorities if she becomes Georgia’s next governor focusing on grocery prices and other everyday expenses facing families across the state.
In an exclusive interview with WSB-TV’s Richard Elliot, Bottoms said the cost of living has been a consistent concern during her campaign. She outlined her proposal to give local governments more flexibility to eliminate or suspend sales taxes on groceries, diapers and feminine hygiene products. Bottoms said her campaign conversations across Georgia have repeatedly brought her back to the same issue of just how much families are paying for basic necessities.
“Eliminating the grocery tax, giving local governments the opportunity to do that because we know that groceries are a necessity,” Bottoms said during the WSB-TV interview. She added that the proposal would also cover “diapers and feminine hygiene products.” Georgia already does not impose a state sales tax on groceries, but local governments can levy their own sales taxes.
Her campaign has proposed a $250 million state fund to temporarily help local governments that lose revenue after opting into the program. The proposal would require approval from the Georgia Legislature. Bottoms has described the plan as a way to give local governments flexibility while providing relief to families. “This is something that can move the needle, can help relieve the cost burden for families across this state, and it can make a difference,” she said when unveiling the proposal earlier this month.
During her WSB-TV interview, Keisha Lance Bottoms also connected rising grocery costs to federal economic policy, specifically tariffs imposed during President Donald Trump’s administration.
“These tariffs are making groceries go up,” Bottoms said. “This is where my opponent, Rick Jackson, has aligned himself, and so many other Republicans across this state.”
That characterization is part of Bottoms’ campaign argument. Jackson’s campaign has separately criticized Bottoms over her record as Atlanta mayor, including her handling of development fees and public safety. Her proposed grocery-tax changes specifically focus on necessities that families regularly purchase. Her broader platform has also included Medicaid expansion, housing affordability and tax proposals affecting teachers and other groups.