April 22--State lawmakers on Thursday approved measures to eliminate the state sales tax on feminine hygiene products and expand contraceptive options.
Under current law, tampons, sanitary napkins and adult diapers are taxed as "luxury items" at a rate of 6.25 percent, a classification supporters say is unfair. Sponsoring Sen. Melinda Bush, D-Grayslake, arguing they were "unavoidable necessities" for women and seniors.
The measure now heads to the House for consideration. Last month, the Chicago City Council voted unanimously to abolish the so-called tampon tax, labeling feminine hygiene products as medical necessities exempt from the city's 1.25 percent sales tax.
In the House, lawmakers approved a measure that would expand contraceptive options for women by eliminating a complicated waiver process they must go through to get birth control medications not offered by their insurance companies.
Sponsoring Rep. Elaine Nekritz, D-Northbrook, said women should be able to choose birth control that's best for their bodies without having to pay more. She argued the bill actually would save the state money by preventing more unintended pregnancies.
Opponents questioned if a wider range of options would add costs to insurance companies and whether or not the morning-after pill, which would be more accessible under the legislation, constituted abortion. Others raised morality issues.
"I seriously question how much promiscuity should an insurance company pay (for)," said Rep. Dwight Kay, R-Glen Carbon. "It's simply wrong, and I think we're trying to address issues that quite frankly don't have any business coming up in this General Assembly."
Supporters contended the debate wasn't about cost or morality, with several female lawmakers arguing birth control could be used for means other than pregnancy prevention, such as treating migraine headaches or regulating menstrual cycles.
"It was jarring, quite frankly, that we are here in 2016, and I am still being told by a panel of white men what belongs in my body," said Rep. Kelly Cassidy, D-Chicago. "This is very simply about the dignity of the relationship between a woman and her doctor, access to appropriate health care."
cbott@tribpub.com
