Gross wants to extend tax holiday, Governor against the idea

The major party candidates for Governor have different opinions about Iowa’s “tax freedom” weekend. If you buy clothes or shoes worth 100-bucks of less today and tomorrow, you don’t pay state sales tax on those purchases. Republican gubernatorial candidate Doug Gross says the list of tax-free items should be expanded to other “back-to-school” purchases, things like backpacks, notebooks and pencils. Democrat Governor Tom Vilsack, though, opposes Gross’ expansion idea.This is the third year for the “tax-free” holiday in Iowa. Vilsack says it was first enacted when the state was flush with money, and now it may be time to get rid of the tax-free holiday in light of tight state budget times.Vilsack won’t go so far as to say the tax-freedom weekend should be scrapped, but he comes close.Vilsack says the idea of the weekend was to spur economic activity, and it’s unclear whether more purchases are being made.