Posted on 05/12/2009 2:35:48 AM PDT by PghBaldy
Senate leaders are considering new federal taxes on soda and other sugary drinks to help pay for an overhaul of the nation's health-care system.
The taxes would pay for only a fraction of the cost to expand health-insurance coverage to all Americans and would face strong opposition from the beverage industry. They also could spark a backlash from consumers who would have to pay several cents more for a soft drink.
On Tuesday, the Senate Finance Committee is set to hear proposals from about a dozen experts about how to pay for the comprehensive health-care overhaul that President Barack Obama wants to enact this year. Early estimates put the cost of the plan at around $1.2 trillion. The administration has so far only earmarked funds for about half of that amount.
The Center for Science in the Public Interest, a Washington-based watchdog group that pressures food companies to make healthier products, plans to propose a federal excise tax on soda, certain fruit drinks, energy drinks, sports drinks and ready-to-drink teas. It would not include most diet beverages. Excise taxes are levied on goods and manufacturers typically pass them on to consumers.
Senior staff members for some Democratic senators at the center of the effort to craft health-care legislation are weighing the idea behind closed doors, Senate aides said.
The Congressional Budget Office, which is providing lawmakers with cost estimates for each potential change in the health overhaul, included the option in a broad report on health-system financing in December. The office estimated that adding a tax of three cents per 12-ounce serving to these types of sweetened drinks would generate $24 billion over the next four years. So far, lawmakers have not indicated how big a tax they are considering.
(Excerpt) Read more at online.wsj.com ...
Has anyone ever seen Obama eat bacon?
OK, I don’t live in the US anymore and I used to feel guilty about that, but now all I can say is, shit the country is going to “Going to Hell in a handbasket”!
Patience.
I meant to say
“Going to Hell in a handbasket”!
wow, a carton of Camels here is 53 bucks (St. Paul, MN).
$53.00 ?!?!? .. dam!
That would almost be worth the time and gas to drive from IL. Of course I'd have to file my 'Use Tax Fees' form and send money to the IL Treasury for anything more than 3 cartons (riiiiight).
If the Mob isn't thinking of this, $90.00 in Chi vs $53.00 in MN, they deserve to go out of business (the chi mob is now a shell of its once powerful self).
I remember when the Katrina victims were being evacuated on a FREE bus, given FREE food, FREE medical care, and taken to hotels to get FREE lodging, there were several complaints by the evacuees on the bus that they were given FREE bottled water and not FREE sodas. The people complaining looked liked they weighed over 300 pounds.
In addition, I propose federal legislation to remove all carbonation from soda pop.
Is the ‘pop’ really worth the enormous carbon footprint of all that CO2?
There’s some actress who wanted us (the little people) to stop using toilet paper, you know, for the environment. My father didn’t grow up with it—they used leaves and corn cobs in the outhouse. No wonder he learned what poison oak was from an early age! But nothing would surprise me from these people. Sadly.
This is getting ridiculous.
In my state, they raised the cigarette tax at the same time the feds did. One week a pack was $26.95, the next it was $50 (note: there’s not one cent of exaggeration there.) So I quit smoking.
At the same time, they raised the tax on alcohol. I’m now brewing my own beer. In fact, I bought the equipment mail-order, and I’m doing the same with the ingredients, so that I don’t pay sales tax on them. I may not have given up alcohol, but I’m not paying the state one cent for the privilege.
Now this. I guess I’m going to start making my own soda: http://greatfamilygadgets.com/make-your-own-soda-or-seltzer-at-home/ They aren’t even taxing my soda (it says diet would be exempt.) But I’m going to cut them out of the loop anyway, just because I can.
That's because the rest of us won't be able to afford any sodas!
yeah, pretty high profit margin/motive there I’d say. That was the first thing I thought of as I typed it. almost $40.00 difference.
Sure looks like price gouging to me. Of course that can’t really be happening in the Big O’s hometown now can it?
They won’t get a dime from me. I don’t drink anything carbonated.
“But let me perfectly clear, because I know you’ll hear the same old claims that rolling back these tax breaks means a massive tax increase on the American people: if your family earns less than $250,000 a year, you will not see your taxes increased a single dime. I repeat: not one single dime.”—Barack Obama State of the Union Address, 2/24/09
Time to Push Back Until! We have to limit the amount of money we will allow Congress to spend. It is our money, not theirs.
_____________
STOP sending it to them to spend.
I printed a copy of Obama's "New Era of Responsibility" that outlines the most outrageous and irresponsible spending blitz of all time by any government in the history of man.
It should be about a two month supply.
What about gatorade or fruit juices. They're part of this too.
I bet he’s chicken to increase the tax on alcohol.
____________
Why? He did it on cigarettes, now wants to do it on carbonated beverages, why not liquor? What’s next? I’m sure they have a list. Hotels? Jewelry? Televisions over a certain size? Anything that is luxury item?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.