Pay as you go: Florida lawmaker seeks to tax toilet paper

www.sun-sentinel.com ^ | March 10, 2005 | By DAVID ROYSE

[Millicent_Hornswaggle]

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- Florida's Legislature is flush with good ideas. Sen. Al Lawson's involves a 2 cent-per-roll tax on toilet paper to pay for wastewater treatment and help small towns upgrade their sewer systems. The Democratic lawmaker's pay-as-you-go bill has been the source of many jokes -- bathroom humor you might say -- but he says the issue is a serious one, especially in some of the fast-growing Panhandle coastal counties in his district. ``They're experiencing a tremendous boom in growth and they're not able to accommodate the growth,'' Lawson said. ``We've got 17 million people in this state and all of them can contribute to protecting our underground water supply.'' In a Republican-dominated Legislature that doesn't like new taxes, the idea is likely to pretty quickly end up in the tank. Senate President Tom Lee, R-Brandon, said he didn't think it would get too far, but didn't rule it out. ``We'll be getting to the bottom of it real soon,'' Lee said. The House is skeptical as well. ``We're not wild about tax increases,'' said House Speaker Allan Bense, R-Panama City. ``But we'll certainly let it go through the system.'' If it were to pass, the extra two pennies would start being charged in October. Lawson said it could generate $50 million a year. It would also need approval from Gov. Jeb Bush. He said that if toilet paper is taxed, people might use less of it. ``That's not necessarily a good thing,'' noted the governor. And what about consumers? Wouldn't they be squeezed by a tax on the Charmin? No, says Lawson. ``Two cents is not going to hurt families at all,'' he said. ``This is one thing people don't mind paying for.''

[R. Scott]

See post #37

[R. Scott]

TP the State House?

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

Let me tell you
How it will be.
There's one for you,
Nineteen for me,

'Cause I'm the taxman.
Yeah, I'm the taxman.

Should five percent
Appear too small,
Be thankful I don't
Take it all.

'Cause I'm the taxman.
Yeah, I'm the taxman.

If you drive a car,
I'll tax the street.
If you drive to city,
I'll tax your seat.
If you get too cold,
I'll tax the heat.
If you take a walk,
I'll tax your feet.

Taxman!

'Cause I'm the taxman.
Yeah, I'm the taxman.

Don't ask me what I want it for,
(Uh-uh, Mr. Lawson.)
If you don't want to pay some more.
(Uh-uh, Mr. Bense.)

'Cause I'm the taxman.
Yeah, I'm the taxman.

And my advice to
Those who die.
(Taxman!)
Declare the pennies
On your eyes.
(Taxman!)

'Cause I'm the taxman.
Yeah, I'm the taxman,
And you're working for no one but me.
(Taxman!)

[mewzilla]

TP the State House?

Charmin or Cottonelle?

[MarkL]

This is discrimination! As someone who suffers from Crohns Disease, and inflamitory bowel disease, I use a lot more TP than the general public. This new tax is discriminatory against myself, and everyone who suffers from an IBD! In fact, due to the increased cost of TP, I think that everyone who suffers from an IBD should be entitled to both state and federal funds to help us purchase the additional TP we need.

In fact, it's wrong that the toilet paper manufacturers (Big TP) charge so much in the first place, for something that we so desperately need! I think that there needs to be a federal investigation as to why we're being gouged by TP (sorry, no pun intended...) manufacturers. Shouldn't free, soft TP be our right, as victims of IBD? I'm sure that the Americans with Disabilities act should cover this!

I wonder what my state's going to do with the money they get from the settlement with "Big TP?"

Mark

[Cowman]

I'll bet there will be quite a big stink about this one

[NautiNurse]

I use a lot more TP than the general public.

Adding this to the 'more information than I need to know' list. ;o)

[jdemarco]

Here in New Jersey former Governor Jim Florio (D) tried this during his first and only term in 1993. The people revolted and stormed Trenton throwing rolls of toilet paper at the State Capital, and mailed countless rolls of toilet paper to the state senate and Governor. Florio rescinded but was decisively booted from office the next election.

[Between the Lines]

Why is the state getting involved with what is obviously a local issue? Unless the state wants to take over the thousands of sewer systems in the entire state, then it has no business subsidizing a few at the cost of all the citizens.

[mewzilla]

Why do I think that any money raised from a TP tax won't go to sewers?

[Smartaleck]

Surcharge if you weigh over 200lbs?

[PatrickHenry]

Toilet Paper Ping List!

[AnOldCowhand]

``Two cents is not going to hurt families at all,'' he said. ``This is one thing people don't mind paying for.''

Aside from the idiocy of this proposal;
I am weary of these coupla-cents-here-coupla-cents-there taxes. I have heard the stupid analogy that "It's only the cost of a soda-pop per day." Well yeah, that's fine but the other 500 Democrat thieves that have taxation authority over my life are getting theirs too and it is adding up to real money.

If developing towns need sewers then the towns or the developers can pay for them. Why should someone in the Keys be paying for a sewer system in the panhandle?

[js1138]

Am I on the TP ping list because my old high school was Terry Parker?

[VadeRetro]

They can have my toilet paper when they ...

THEY CAN'T HAVE MY TOILET PAPER!!

[PatrickHenry]

Am I on the TP ping list because my old high school was Terry Parker?

It's probably because your personal hygiene habits make you immune to this tax.

[PatrickHenry]

Already, hoards of refugees -- with soiled pants -- can be seen fleeing Florida to cross over into Georgia:

[AnOldCowhand]

Probably a deliberate overstatement. That way, in two years when it's not bringing in as much revenue as predicted, they will be obliged to start raising it.

[js1138]

Raising the average income levels of both states.

[Between the Lines]

Why do I think that any money raised from a TP tax won't go to sewers?

You misunderstood me. What I am trying to say is that the state does not own or maintain any of these sewer systems, so they should not be taxing people to upgrade them.

The article also implies that this tax is for upgrades to systems in smaller fast growing towns that are having problems trying to keep up. So in effect this tax would be subsidizing these cities at the expense of the taxpayers in the entire state.