Posted on 04/30/2008 4:02:08 PM PDT by mware
New Jersey Lawmakers Consider Tax On Fast Food 'Sin' Tax Could Help Fund Struggling Hospitals
Reporting Christine Sloan
WINDSOR, N.J. (CBS) ― The sputtering economy has caused an increase in prices of many staples including gasoline, rice, ice cream, even beer. Now some lawmakers in New Jersey are considering taking food taxes a step further and install a proverbial "sin" tax on fast food.
Yes, the idea of marking up your favorite fast food burger or pack of fries is actually being tossed around, and it's not settling well with many residents.
"They're taxing everything. Now you're gonna tax fast food? That's crazy," said Newark resident Miriam Robertson.
Added Livingston resident Tina Abrahamian: "No one wants to be taxed. I mean, it's a necessity to eat and people need to eat and with everything skyrocketing, that's the last thing we want to tax."
The thought of taxing a Big Mac or a Wendy's burger came up at a New Jersey Hospital Association meeting where Gov. Jon S. Corzine was asked if it could be an option to help fund struggling hospitals. At the meeting, he reportedly called it a "constructive suggestion."
A spokesperson for the governor, however, told CBS 2 on Wednesday:
"The governor is open to reasonable solutions to help solve our financing problems, but there are no plans for any fast food tax."
State Sen. Richard Codey has been quoted as saying a tax on fast food "is a tax on the poor." And plenty of residents agree.
"[It cost] $12.86 for [fries] and this little chicken wrap, and they want to tax that? You're serious?" asked Newark resident Saladine Fuller. "If they raise it, I'll stop buying it."
Still, some say taxing fast food isn't such a bad idea.
"I think this country has gone too much in the direction of fast and unhealthy food, and if people are taxed they may terminate that and turn toward more healthy foods," said West Orange resident Maureen Felix.
For now, the fast food tax is just an idea. Detroit lawmakers once toyed with it, but it never passed into law.
So why isn’t anyone suggesting the state spend less on other areas?
$12.86 for fries and a chicken wrap?! Glad I don’t live there! Oh, and when did beer and ice cream become “staples?”
I can see it now. We are taxing fast food because it is unhealthy and it is putting a strain on our healthcare system. This will be like the tabacco tax.
.....because the inmates are controlling Bedlam.
stupid americans keep re-electing these evil fools who will tax and regulate until america is in the dumpster of history unless they are stopped.
How will they define “fast food”?
How about it's a 'Sin to Tax Fast Food' is more appropriate.
My gall bladder is gone now, but I am still staying away from fast food.
No you have it wrong, you must spend less and give more to the government, so they don;'t have to cut back. Oink!! Oink!!
Wendy’s for one.
Time for a new ‘Boston Tea Party’ like revolution. Throw these tax grabbers as legislatures overboard.
Yeah, really! I mean, who needs ice cream?
But what makes a restaurant a “fast food” place? Are Subway and Jimmy John’s considered fast food, or just places that fry stuff?
Of course, how silly of me!
so I wonder how many of these concerned citizens were all for increased taxes on cigarettes..now that the gov’t is coming after THEM, it’s a NO NO..heh, we told ya so..
October 13, 1961.
/johnny/
BARRY, BARRY, BARRY, here is a new elitist rant for you buddy. I am a bitter American clinging to my Bible, my guns, my antipathy toward illegal invaders, and clinging to my Big Mac and fries.
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