Barack Obama only just found out about tampon tax and here's what he makes of it

In the UK tampons and other sanitary products are considered luxury items and come with a 0.5 per cent VAT rate.

Ask any person, be they a woman or a man, and it is unlikely they would consider bleeding for a week every month a luxurious event.

Some may even go as far to say lining your underwear with sanitary towels and putting cotton sausages in your vagina to stop blood going everywhere is, in fact, the opposite of luxurious.

In the US, federal law does not dictate a tax on tampons, however, state legislators are at liberty to set tax rates in their given state.

Forty out of 50 states impose a luxury item tax on sanitary products.

During an interview with a selection of YouTubers, Obama was quizzed over the tax by lifestyle vlogger Ingrid Nilsen.

"Recently I was shocked to learn that pads, tampons and other menstrual products are taxed as luxury goods in 40 states,” said Nilsen.

"I don’t think there is anyone who has a period that thinks it's a luxury."

Obama responded:

I think that's fair to say, Michelle would agree with you on that.

I have to tell you, I have no idea why states would tax these as luxury items. I suspect it's because men were making the laws when those taxes were passed.

I think it's pretty sensible for women in those states that you just mentioned to work to get those taxes removed. Those aren't federal taxes...

I must confess I was not aware of until you brought it to my attention.

Interview starts at 32:00

While it is more than refreshing to hear a [male] politician talk sensibly about sanitary tax, it would be nice to hear one dare to mention the word TAMPON!

H/T Mashable