Posted on 03/18/2010 9:39:45 AM PDT by Vigilanteman
Buzz up!
Pittsburgh's mayor touts a proposed tax on sweetened beverages as one that would promote healthier living through weight loss, but it's really "a money grab," one critic said Wednesday.
Another outspoken critic of Allegheny County's tax on alcoholic beverages called this tax an "absurd" idea that would hurt restaurants and businesses.
Yet, Mayor Luke Ravenstahl said he plans to meet Monday with state lawmakers in Harrisburg about the city's need to raise $15 million for its pension fund, and
the beverage tax modeled after one Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter proposed will be part of the discussion.
"If somebody has a better idea or a different idea ... we're all ears," Ravenstahl said. "I think we saw from Philadelphia what they're trying to do; we researched it, and we thought it was important to bring that up. Doing nothing would require City Council to raise taxes."
The tax would levy a 2-cent-per-ounce surcharge on sweetened beverages, including soda, sports drinks, energy drinks and iced tea. That would mean an extra
40 cents for a 20-ounce soda, or $2.88 on a 12-pack of cans. Pittsburgh officials said initial research shows the tax could generate $25 million a year. The proposal would add 18 cents per ounce of syrup used for fountain drinks.
(Excerpt) Read more at pittsburghlive.com ...
The boy mayor got bitch-slapped on his idea to tax college tuition, which was actually a less stupid idea than this since that demographic keeps electing these nimrods.
Pittsburgh is one of the best spots in America for dining, so naturally they want to strangle the goose which lays the golden egg.
I can see it all now - soda smuggling rackets in Pittsburgh to avoid the tax, just like cigarettes are smuggled into NYC.
Isn’t it amazing how some forms of taxation are just lightning rods?
I’ve had my fill of legislators telling me that they are going to take my money for my own good.
ping
You know the supermarket discount cards? Already in child custody cases the purchase patterns logged on such cards have been used to show which parent would "take better care of the child".
They will ABSOLUTELY feel comfortable telling you what to eat, or calling you evil. There might even be designated "gorge areas" created, a little like ever-shrinking areas set aside for smokers (and I'm not a smoker).
After Medicare, we got motorcycle helmet laws (though I don’t ride a motorcycle). It was very easy to say that private decisions regarding protective gear had costs external to the rider, and so society was justified telling all riders that they HAD to wear helmets.
The real solution is 2 get rid of Medicare (which WILL happen, sooner or later).
It is not their Damn Money!! Hands Off!!
I think any more, when they propose a tax that is supposed to benefit health, or the children, or education, or other wholesome stuff, you can count on it that it’s really just a way to raise revenue.
Illinois for years justified tobacco tax hikes to promote health, and smoking cessation and prevention. The last time they raised it, they didn’t even pretend. The state is so far in the hole, this was just another way to get general revenue.
If anyone is curious about making your own sugary fizzy drinks, there’s a recipe for root beer here: http://biology.clc.uc.edu/Fankhauser/Cheese/ROOTBEER_Jn0.htm which couls be easily adapted to other flavors or sugar sources (i.e.: honey, molasses, etc).
Change “couls” to “could”, I can’t type today.
“That’s what you think! According to our liberal overlords, all money belongs to the government and any which they allow you to keep is a gift from them.”
From the way it is looking with this bunch of commies you are right!
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