Last week, we made note of 19 bills sponsored by state House Republicans proposing sales tax holidays on everything from gas to soccer gear.

We didn’t disagree with the idea of a gas tax holiday, in part because Warren County’s gas prices were already too high compared to the rest of the state even before the war on Iran sent gas prices skyrocketing. That particular sales tax holiday can help millions of Pennsylvania residents and should, in our opinion, be seriously considered by lawmakers from both parties.

But many of the other sales tax holidays proposed are too narrow, and frankly, too frivolous, to merit serious consideration.

Here’s a better solution.

Pennsylvania has a 6% statewide sales tax that applies to tangible personal property and specific services, though many items like food (groceries), clothing, and prescription drugs are exempt. If state lawmakers are concerned that sales taxes are holding back purchases on their particular pet product – like football equipment, in the case of one lawmaker – why don’t Republican lawmakers band together and pitch a general 1% rollback on all sales taxes for a period of six months.

Rather than helping those looking to buy fencing for farms, Halloween decorations, spring cleaning supplies for the spring of 2027 or Fourth of July items – all of which are among the items proposed by Republicans over the past two months – the party could help every state resident during a time when inflation is hitting every Pennsylvanians’ bank account.

The problem is it’s easy to submit co-sponsorship memorandums. It’s harder to replace the money the state would lose with a bunch of small sales tax breaks, or one large one, for that matter. It’s hard to say which is more disappointing – that Republicans didn’t think bigger and coordinate their efforts, or that they spammed the legislature with such unserious legislation in the first place.