Posted on 04/11/2008 9:52:04 AM PDT by NormsRevenge
SACRAMENTO - Joe Six-pack will have to pay a lot more to get his buzz on if Assemblyman Jim Beall has his way.
The San Jose Democrat on Thursday proposed raising the beer tax by $1.80 per six-pack, or 30 cents per can or bottle. The current tax is 2 cents per can. That's an increase of about 1,500 percent.
Beall said the tax would generate $2 billion a year to fund health care services, crime prevention and programs to prevent underage drinking and addiction.
"The people who use alcohol should pay for part of the cost to society, just like we've accepted that concept with tobacco," Beall said.
He added that the beer tax hasn't been touched since 1991, and the increase then was meager.
But the freshman lawmaker will have to lift the legislative equivalent of a full keg of beer over his head to get his tax enacted. That's because it would require a two-thirds vote in the Assembly and Senate - and then, because it's a constitutional amendment, it would have to be approved by voters. Republicans say it's a non-starter.
"I predict the shelf life will be very short," said Assemblyman Roger Niello, R-Sacramento, vice chairman of the budget committee. ...
Mike Fox Sr., chairman of San Jose-based beer distributor M.E. Fox & Co., said Beall's heart is in the right place. "He's very dedicated in areas of health," Fox said. "But a tax of that nature is far too grievous. The beer industry produces so much for the economy. He won't get to first base with that."
Dan Gordon, co-founder of Gordon Biersch Brewing Co., calculated that the tax on a barrel of beer would go from $6.40 to $89. "We would all be looking for jobs," he said.
(Excerpt) Read more at mercurynews.com ...
Is there a legislative equivalent to the Darwin Awards?
This guy might as well propose an "I hate apple pie and babies" bill.
From my perspective I'd rather the poor and the illegal dip into their own pocket, not mine. This seems poetic justice if the General Fund is going to be redistributed to the consequences of illegal Mexican immigration.
I'm torn on this one.
As a person who appreciates a nice cold beer, my heart goes out to those poor Californians who might have to pay this onerous tax.
But as a person who enjoys poetic justice, I hope the new tax IS imposed. That way, all the smug idiots who sang the praises of smoke-free California bars will also get to enjoy the unintended consequences of their smoking ban.
This is a perfect example of the ultimate danger of socializing risk. When the government indemnifies individuals against the consequences of their own behavior (e.g. - Medicaid for indigent lung cancer patients; free rehab services for drunken bums), the state can then claim a right to regulate and/or tax the risk factors themselves. Loss of freedom follows as the power of the state grows.
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
It is rather poetic. On that I agree.
Have a great weekend.
Hussein Obama wants to cap CEO pay, Hilliary wants to nationalize health care. Politicians decry the "ENERGY" crises as they march lock-step with environmentalists denying the United States it's OWN oil resources and virtually every politician on both sides of the aisle never met a REGULATION they didn't like.
If either of the two Dems win in NOV and the congress stays with the left there will be no stopping cacophonous rise of SOCIALISM!!
A government big enough to give you everything you want, is strong enough to take from you everything you have........Gerald Ford, Aug 12, 1974
It's for the children.
Besides, I don't drink beer.
Just saying.
OK then.
Can someone 'splain to me how they managed to do it with cigarettes?
Especially after several beers!
;-)
Thanks, you too CSM.
It was done this time without a Constitutional amendment, which was obviously neccessary to the population the last time this was tried.
If we propose a tax on mashed ‘taters, maybe that guy will get the message.
Lol I read about this idiot just as I was cracking a nice Bell’s Hopslam — the best beer in the world. The question is what won’t these Dem douchebags tax to fund their socialist schemes.
First they came for the smokers and I said nothing...
And when they come for the fat people, this skinny person is going to watch and laugh.
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