Utah lawmaker backs off sales tax on food

SALT LAKE CITY — An Orem lawmaker says he will back off an effort to push for a sales tax on food this legislative session.

In a briefing with the media, Sen. John Valentine, R-Orem, said he will not push to raise the tax on food this session while lowering the overall sales tax.

Senate President Wayne Niederhauser, R-Sandy, said there was opposition to the idea in the House and there was no sense in spending energy on the proposal.

The Senate attempted to raise the sales tax on food in the past, but backed off when the idea faced stiff opposition among House members.