Posted on 01/06/2009 11:17:03 AM PST by NormsRevenge
Complaining that they already have been hit hard by the ailing economy, many Inland bar owners are upset by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's proposal to raise taxes on cocktails, beer and wine purchased at bars.
"It's awful," said Paula Jones, owner of Arts Bar & Grill in downtown Riverside.
Business has dropped 30 percent the past year, the worst decline Jones has seen in 25 years of owning the bar, she said.
The nickel-a-drink tax is part of Schwarzenegger's plan to solve a nearly $40 billion state budget shortfall projected through June 2010. If approved by the Legislature in the coming weeks, the tax would take effect Feb. 1 and raise an estimated $829 million through 2010. Legislators have shown little interest in the idea but the governor has proposed it twice.
Nearly all of a dozen bar owners and bar patrons interviewed recently voiced displeasure with the Republican governor's proposal.
Several bar owners said it's an attack on small businesses and it would likely lead them to raise prices. Most patrons said they favor budget cuts rather than so-called sin taxes on items such as cigarettes and alcohol.
"It will be tolerated," said Dan Medis, 70, drinking a scotch and water Friday at Joe's Bar and Grill in Riverside. "You tolerate herpes. You tolerate constipation. It doesn't mean it's right. It ain't right."
(Excerpt) Read more at pe.com ...
This results in “pre-drinking”, usually in the parking lot, followed by the predictable increase of open container and drunk driving charges.
A judge recently ordered the county executive to use the tax money for its initially-stated purpose, the Port Authority (public transit) system. Not to spread the cash to other needs.
Time for a new “Whiskey Rebellion” in this country.
The tax lovers ie Liberals are just trying to shut down commerce, industry and travel. Discouraging.
dumb idea. it’d be better to hit the bar with a per bottle tax.
most bars would have to shell out extra money to reprogram their systems to acknowledge a new per drink tax.
How about a tax based on the number of letters in their name.
How about a tax based on the number of letters in their name.
Talk about regressive taxation. And here I thought Dems and liberal Repubs wanted to protect the "little guy." Thanks Arnold and Sacramento...
What does a drink in most bars cost these days. $3.50?? I doubt charging $3.55 will stop many people from ordering a drink.
Like the man said it aint right,but what can you do?
Oh man, I read that headline the fist time as Irish not Inland, guess I have a stereotype firmly planted in me wee brain. Ha.
How many bar tabs are paid in cash? Probably a nickel will get reported for every three nickles collected.
More revenue! Brilliant!
Alcohol tax
property tax
sales tax
business income &/or personal income tax
business license
liquor license
inventory tax? Don’t recall about CA.
FICA
State Disability tax
State Unemployment tax
What did I leave off the list? I’m sure I missed something.
And now, since they don’t already gouge enough, they want a per-drink tax as well.
That is 'right hand/left hand' BS nonsense. It ALWAYS 'spreads the cash' by the simple fact of making more cash available, no matter if EVERY cent of the 'dedicated' funds are spent on the stated purpose.
Are other fees/taxes dropped, when these things are implimented? NO!
Is funding from other sources redirected to compensate for the newly dedicated funding? YES!
Then it IS spreading cash to other needs; the rest is just sheeple soothing BS to keep them docile while being fleeced.
This judge is just trying to stuff some of their wool into their ears, so they won't hear the bleating of the already shorn.
I read it as Island and wondered was Arnold speaking of Catalina.
A nickel here a dime there...it is a slippery slope to tax everything.
We have to wonder how long it will be till the next Boston Tea Party.
Coin operated bathroom doors would be a great source of tax revenues too. Everyone has to pee sooner or later when in a bar.........
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