Hood proposes cutting Mississippi's grocery tax

The Democratic nominee for Mississippi governor says he wants to cut the state's 7 percent grocery sales tax in half to give working people a break.

Attorney General Jim Hood spoke Wednesday at a locally owned grocery store in the Delta town of Indianola. He said the Republican-led legislature has given millions of dollars in corporate tax breaks.

Hood says to keep cities from losing money with a grocery tax reduction, he wants to send revenue from an online sales tax to cities and counties.

Hood spoke hours before a televised debate between two Republican gubernatorial candidates. Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves and retired Mississippi Supreme Court Chief Justice Bill Waller, Jr., who are competing in a runoff Aug. 27 for the party nomination.