Gov. Ned Lamont insisted the so-called "grocery tax" was an honest mistake that even took him by surprise during a one-on-one interview with News 12 Connecticut's "Power and Politics."

Shoppers were fuming a few weeks ago when they learned dozens of grocery items would be hit a 7% restaurant tax. According to the state Revenue Department, everything from rotisserie chickens to small containers of lettuce, ice cream, and cookies were considered "prepared meals" and set to be taxed.

Days later, the tax department revised the rules. Gov. Lamont said they misinterpreted the state budget and removed most grocery items.

"The legislature wrote some language that was not clear," says Lamont. "DRS -- Department of Revnue Services -- interpreted that a little too broadly. We stopped it dead in its tracks."

"Shame on me because my guys started saying, ‘We're looking at the numbers…’ and it took us a couple of days to realize that they had too broadly interpreted what the intent of the Legislature and our intent was,” he says.

That tax issue was just one of many topics covered in Gov. Lamont’s interview with News 12’s John Craven. They also discussed the legalization of marijuana, tolls and climate change.

The full interview can be seen this weekend at 11:30 a.m., 4:30 p.m., 8:30 p.m. and on the Connecticut Power & Politics page.