Lawmakers want to exempt feminine care products from taxes

COLUMBUS — Democratic lawmakers in the Ohio House want to exempt tampons and other feminine hygiene products from sales taxes.

Reps. Greta Johnson (D-Akron) and Emilia Sykes (D-Akron) announced legislation accomplishing that task Monday, using the occasion to draw attention to the pay disparities between genders.

"The cost of being a woman is high," Johnson said during a press conference at the Statehouse, noting that women spend $100-$250 or more per month on feminine care and related products. "... This may not seem like much, but over a lifetime of 2,375 days on their period, the costs add up. When you combine with the cost of female birth control and regulating a problematic period and purchasing necessary hygiene products, this can cost a women hundreds to thousands of dollars a year."