Minn. Lawmakers Consider "Snack Tax"

KSTP.com ^ | 3/13/13 | Stephen Tellier

[ButThreeLeftsDo]

From popcorn to pretzels, and cookies to corn chips -- a new bill would slap the state sales tax on a wide range of snack foods, and it could make your grocery bill balloon.

The so-called "snack tax" bill would apply Minnesota's sales tax to potato chips, pretzels, cheese puffs, popcorn, nuts, trail mix, cookies, pastries, and ice cream.

The bill was heard in a House committee for the first time on Wednesday afternoon, but no vote was taken.

Five Eyewitness News went to Tim and Tom's Speedy Market in St. Paul and stocked up on pretty much everything on the list -- 16 different items. Right now, not a single one of them is subject to the state sales tax.

[ButThreeLeftsDo]

Bloomberg would approve...

[LiveFreeOrDie2001]

What a bunch of BS.

They won’t stop, will they.

[CityCenter]

Washington states did and the people promptly overturned it in the next election.

[SpaceBar]

Government is a cancer.

[ButThreeLeftsDo]

Maybe someone will propose a hefty tax on anti_psychotic drugs in MN. That would get Marx Dayton’s attention.

[TomGuy]

The huge Obamacare bill and its stack of regulations may already have taxes on junk food — to fund Michelle’s pet projects and vacations.

[erlayman]

I think it is an awesome idea, although implementation would be complicated and soft-drink taxes are already ineffective as an ‘obesity tax. The individual liberty argument would have more weight if the health effects weren’t spilling over into society in the form of higher insurance premiums and a greater share of public dollars going to Medicare and Medicaid.

[LiveFreeOrDie2001]

I think it’s about time we unite and start taxing Government.

[justrepublican]

Marx dayton. I like that.

[LiveFreeOrDie2001]

“I think it is an awesome idea”

Are you out of your mind???

I ate more Ice Cream than you can ever imagine & lots of sugar for 50 years and have NO health issues & all my numbers are in normal range! Look at my profile pic - do I look like a sicko?? WHAT health effects??

[LibWhacker]

Wish conservative lawmakers would take a cue from these a******s. I want to see a tax on communist reading material... $1,000 on anything by Marx, Mao, Alinsky. $999 on anything by their students. $100 on any flyer handed out on a street corner by any communist punk, etc. They say they are worried about snacks rotting kids’ teeth. I’m worried about their crap rotting kids’ minds. My concerns are at least as valid as theirs.

[Paladin2]

‘rats have become totally demented.

[Paladin2]

Dude, you need to go Galt.

[Daffynition]

Maine had one for ten years..and dropped it..

Snack Tax' Dropped in Maine

[From The Deer Stand]

Let me guess..... Democrats?

[dforest]

Democrats are assholes who tax anything and everything.

Why would anyone vote for these jackasses?

[dforest]

You are a cutie. You can continue to eat whatever suits you.!

[BibleGunClinger]

More miserable, moronic ideas from the liberal controlled government in Minnesota. I am amazed that I can even dress myself in the morning without their help or some stupid law.

[Cyber Liberty]

I think it is an awesome idea...

[andyk]

The individual liberty argument would have more weight if the health effects weren’t spilling over into society in the form of higher insurance premiums and a greater share of public dollars going to Medicare and Medicaid.

So you support more intrusive government because government has created a scenario where the public is now responsible for paying for a large portion of the public's health care. How nice. Let's punish everyone because some people don't care about themselves or take personal responsibility for their actions.

That logic is much like liberals who say that we have to make people have health care because otherwise they'll go to the emergency room. Well, who do you think wants to force hospitals to provide emergency care?