Posted on 03/16/2009 5:00:11 AM PDT by yankeedame
New revenues » Cigarettes are taxed, why not soda pop?
Have a Coke and a tax.
That's what Rep. Craig Frank (R.) wants his colleagues in the Legislature to consider.
...the potential for taxing caffeine, a response to proposals this session to hike the tax on cigarettes...
Frank said his intent initially was just to target caffeinated sodas and other cold beverages, but he has decided to look at the substance more broadly.
"Some feel [the cigarette tax is] a tax on those who are addicted to a substance that frankly they enjoy [but] we say that's a harmful thing to do....So in light of that, if we're really going to find a revenue stream on something addictive, why not cold caffeine?"
...Frank said he has seen research that caffeine can cause spontaneous abortion, psychological abnormalities and other disorders.
"We're going after people who have problems with addiction for a revenue stream, only caffeine would be one that is more broad-based," said Frank, who calls himself a "social caffeine drinker."
Most of Utah's population and more than 80 percent of the Utah Legislature belong to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which discourages its members from drinking "hot drinks." Some Mormons have interpreted that to extend beyond coffee and tea to caffeinated beverages.
(Excerpt) Read more at sltrib.com ...
Breathing causes death. Everyone whi is breathing will eventually die. (Global warming logic.) So, tax breathing.
Wait a minute. Carbon tax? Nevermind.
Didn’t they try this on tea a while back?
...the potential for taxing caffeine, a response to proposals this session to hike the tax on cigarettes...
If I were a potential opponent to this a$$hat, I'd make this my #1 campaign issue.
"Frank wants to tax every cup of coffee you drink."
I suspect that this issue could be a career limiting maneuver.
Mark
I say go for it. There’s no end to the sin taxes we can impose. Why, there’s the possibility of a sex tax on rubbers and birth control pills waiting out there in the wings for some enterprising legislator. How about a tax on every motor over 3 litres in a car? It’s being done in Europe so it’s obviously a very good idea. We need taxes on fireplaces because they are designed to burn wood, a huge source of CO2. Any new house designed with a fireplace should have to pay the carbon tax up front. Taxes on cows are a good idea, especially if you are not a business dedicated to raising beef for meat or milk but instead a hobbyist or small time operator.
The list of taxes we can impose on folks who don’t conform to our norms is endless. Time to get cracking! We’ve got a whole lot of sinners out there to punish!
Beer, wine and liquor need it badly, They kill and harm a lot of people too. But none of the politians will touch this. Where is MADD in this bill?
Mormons don’t drink caffeinated drinks.
Not so fast. Have you ever been to Utah? Coffee shops are few and far between in the places I've visited (at least compared to here in Oregon). Not surprising, given the religious beliefs of a large number of people who live there.
This coming from a (R)...
So does this mean that decaf coffee won’t be taxed?
Utah State Rep. Who Floated "Caffeine Tax" Idea Says He Was Joking
Don't get your panties in a wad unless you know the full story.
I've been to Provo and Orem. There are a number of high-tech companies there, and they used to go through caffeine at an alarming rate when I was visiting.
Mark
In a completely unrelated side note, if you are ever in those parts, you gotta go see Zion National Park. Absolutely breathtaking.
Or maybe to the list really hit chewing gum. Especially the ones with sugar that cause decays. And put a tax in the bathroom, everyflush, 10cents...there is still much to tax.
It is kind of ironic that most people react negatively to this idea, yet hop on the cigarette tax bandwagon easily. It seems time for a reality check. Everything can be taxed to the death, so why are cigarettes the only target? Itis worse than the lottery really.
That is exactly what I saw when I read this article. Thanks for pointing out the rationale behind this man’s proposal.
You do understand that part of this is that Mormons are not supposed to consume caffeine, right? This includes, coffee, tea, colas, etc.
>> The list of taxes we can impose on folks who don’t conform to our norms is endless.
I see you point.
Maybe along with caffeine, UTahns could tax all that LDS property in downtown Salt Lake City. Now THAT would bring in some bucks.
Granted, but people take this “proposal” so seriously b/c in day and age it is very much a possibility. Dare I say, ‘probability’?
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