NY tampon tax to get the ax with governor set to sign

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — New York's Legislature has given its final approval to exempting tampons and other feminine hygiene products from state sales taxes.

A spokesman said today that Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo will sign it into law. It will take effect in the subsequent sales-tax quarter.

It exempts tampons, sanitary napkins and panty liners from the 4 percent state sales tax.

Democratic Assembly member Linda Rosenthal says the bill isn't limited to those items and would also exempt future menstrual products.

She says it's a sexist tax and notes that other medical necessities like bandages, medicine and even condoms are exempt.

New York has more than 10 million women of child-bearing age.

Republican Sen. Sue Serino says repeal of the out-of-touch tax has been decades in the making.