South Carolina bill aims to provide free tampons in state buildings

A male South Carolina lawmaker is aiming to ease the lives of women during their menstrual cycles with a new bill.

Rep. Cezar McKnight, D-Kingstree, introduced a bill earlier this week that would provide tampons and sanitary napkins in all public buildings owned by the state, according to the Post and Courier.

“A menstrual cycle is a basic bodily function,” McKnight told the Post and Courier. “We provide for all the other bodily functions, why not this one?”

The freshman lawmaker argued that his bill is not just a woman’s issue, but a “human issue,” according to reporting by Morris News Service.

"I thought, 'wow, it’s unfair that someone has to pre-plan their day and do things that I, as a man, don’t have to,'" he said. "We should lead the way. As our state agencies do it, our private businesses will pick it up."

Meanwhile, lawmakers across the country are debating whether or not there should be a sales tax on tampons. At least seven states are considering legislation after a social media campaign #periodswithoutshame kick started the movement.

South Carolina is one of 10 states in the nation that taxes tampons as a luxury item while candy and soda are not taxed, according The Tax Foundation. The S.C. Legislature is about 86 percent male.

This story was originally published March 17, 2016 at 11:58 AM with the headline "South Carolina bill aims to provide free tampons in state buildings."