MP To Finance Minister: “Why Is My Vagina Being Taxed?”

An MP for Bright Future pointed out to the Minister of Finance that some changes made to the tax code appear to be on par with gender-based discrimination.

Vísir reports that Bright Future MP Heiða Kristín Helgadóttir addressed parliament today on the subject of excise tax. In particular, she pointed out that the government has lowered taxes on some household items – but not all of them.

While the VAT has been lowered on items such as condoms and diapers, she said, VAT on tampons and pads remains the same: 24%.

“I second what many women have asked: why is my vagina being taxed?,” Heiða asked Minister of Finance Bjarni Benediktsson, asking additionally if there were any plans to lower the VAT on these items.

Bjarni responded by going into great detail about the Independence Party’s position on the VAT; that it makes more sense to simplify the VAT system than to create numerous exceptions to it. He affirmed that this remains his position today, as he believes it would be better that “the VAT system in Iceland should be strong, and we should try to decrease the gap between VAT brackets, reduce exceptions, and more. That would provide room for reducing direct taxation.”

Heiða then responded that “I understand Bjarni’s answer to mean that they will not be lowering taxes on the aforementioned items.”

A clip from the exchange (in Icelandic) can be seen below:
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8aV1SGZxPj4&w=560&h=315]