Voters defeat espresso tax

Tv

[djf]

Seattle voters are defeating a 10 cent per cup espresso tax by a 68% negative vote. The tax was proposed to raise revenues- you guessed it - for the chilrun. Opponents argued that it's a little bit trivializing the important issues of child care, etc. with such a ridiculous, limited, and discriminatory tax.

Of course Washington voters defeated the new stadium proposal twice before it was finally rammed down their throats anyways.

[Howlin]

Blockhead liberals. They'll tax anything except their lattes.

[Semper Paratus]

Don't tax me, don't tax thee,
tax that scmuck whose drinking the tea.

[Grampa Dave]

Tax the micro beer drinkers! Leave our expresso tax free!

One can hear the mantras of the coffee adicted lefties in Seattle.

[djf]

I don't know how anyone can drink the stuff they sell in the stands. The true test of a good bean is being able to drink a straight espresso without any of the celebrate the moment crap. If it's flavorful, strong, aromatic, slightly creamy, and not bitter, weak, or burned, it's a good bean. I make my own. Always have. Buy Millstone in bulk, but lately have acquired a taste for the SBC's 6th Ave Bistro blend. Never!! Starburnt's.

[Uncle Miltie]

There IS a dime's worth of difference between a liberal and their latte.

[djf]

Associated Press (Sep 17, 05:59 AM) After voters in this caffeine capital rejected a proposed 10-cent tax on espresso drinks, cafe owners celebrated with beer, wine and - what else? - lattes. With 97 percent of precincts reporting early Wednesday, 69 percent of voters opposed the tax. The initiative served a jolt of controversy to an otherwise sleepy off-year primary election.

"You can't tax coffee. It just doesn't work," said coffee shop owner Jeff Babcock, celebrating the victory at a downtown espresso store.

The measure would have taxed espresso drinks a dime per cup, with the revenue going to fund preschool and day-care programs. The tax would have been levied on any drink with half an ounce or more of espresso.

Initiative sponsor John Burbank said people who spend $3 to $5 on coconut mochas or iced vanilla lattes could afford an extra dime for kids. "It's a disappointing vote," he said.

Neighbors Pam Masse and Sue Damon voted on opposite sides of the issue.

Damon, a stay-at-home mom, voted for it reluctantly: "I don't think that's the way you fund child care, but something has to be done."

Masse, a drapery installer, said a personal appeal from the owner of her local coffee shop swayed her vote against the measure. "I'm all for helping people, but not when it hurts the small businessperson," she said.

Proponents said the tax would raise at least $6.5 million a year, while a more conservative City Council estimate said the revenue would likely have topped out at $3.5 million annually.

Babcock staged a Boston Tea party-style protest earlier this month, throwing burlap coffee bags into Green Lake. The bags were filled with balloons, both to aid their recovery and because even the most ardent Seattle political protesters weren't about to waste perfectly good espresso beans.

The measure referred to the extra cost as a "luxury" tax, a term opponents disliked.

"It's not a luxury item as far as the culture here," Babcock said. "It's a cold, wet, damp environment. Coffee's big, and everyone loves their lattes."

A coalition of business owners, regular caffeine addicts, coffee roasters and espresso bar owners led by Seattle-based coffee behemoth Starbucks fought against the proposed tax.

Burbank said he hoped the campaign had at least raised awareness about early childhood education: "Now it's time for us to all sit down together and find a robust funding source. If we're serious about ensuring that kids have an equal start in life, we need it."

[tx_eggman]

Damon, a stay-at-home mom, voted for it reluctantly: "I don't think that's the way you fund child care, but something has to be done."

More like an out-to-lunch mom. Maybe she should ditch her kids, get a job and use her money to pay for the care of my children.

[Lancey Howard]

Seattle voters defeat a tax? I don't get it - - the nincompoops of Seattle consistently vote for every scumbag Democrat who comes down the pike. What do they think they're voting for when they vote Democrat? Are they stupid or something?

[djf]

Well, I, for one, am not all that crazy about it. I have no children. But I do have a hound. Wonder if I can start a tax-for-Max? New Lexus buyers only, 500 dollars per new car, to provide for my mutt in his old age. Certainly Lexus buyers can afford it.

[Lancey Howard]

Masse, a drapery installer, said a personal appeal from the owner of her local coffee shop swayed her vote against the measure. "I'm all for helping people, but not when it hurts the small businessperson," she said.

LOL, now there's your typical Democrat:
"I'm all for helping people, but only when government confiscates my neighbor's money to pay for it."

[CougarGA7]

"To Hell with the kids, you ain't taxing my espresso!" - Jim Zorn.

[djf]

Before my wife passed, she knew a gal who had a local stand. Not even in downtown Seattle, we live thirty miles from there. She was knockin down over 250K a year. Better than mowin lawns!

[longtermmemmory]

these are the same fools who hurt small restaurants with smoking bans.

this was a vote to spend other peoples money

[Hoverbug]

This tax was to help children and liberals voted it down.

It is now clear to me that liberals hate and want to starve children!!!!!!! They want our children to grow up stupid!!! They don't care about a child's education!!!

Hb

[pabianice]

One of the great, under-reported stories of 2002 was The Great Massachusetts Voluntary Tax of 2002. MA Liberals have, for years, screamed about how "people would gladly pay more taxes for more social services." Well, in 2002, they set-up a system on the MA income tax forms allowing people to pay additional voluntary state income tax. The result: .04% (four one-hundreths of one percent) of taxpayers paid the added voluntary tax.

IOW, Latte Liberals are all for raising taxes... on someone else. What a revelation.

[cousair]

If you have any doubt about the type of voter who lives in Seattle, just remember this is people's republic of the State of Washington (where I live in the southern part) and we have TWO not one but TWO women Senators, our very special Soccer Mom, Patty Murray, and M. Candwell, both of superior Democrat intellect!! No wonder every vote, including coffee,is for the children, and is controlled by the DNC. The school lobby is the Democrat wing that sponsored the Clintons and although most of the state supports the GOP, we are controlled by King County and the Seattle vote. What a way to go!!UGGGGGGGGG!!

[cousair]

The Libs lost on this one, but it is a small price to pay since they own everything else..

[djf]

Yup. Past Washington notables have included Jackson, Gorton, etc. Now, we're whipped.