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 ...
sugary drinks?
So the diet variety isn’t taxable?
Thanks for the ping!
He probably drinks alcohol.
Little did I know that would be a pittance compared to Zer0's $25 per lb. tax that just went into effect. Without a squeak from the public!!!
So I have little sympathy when it comes to raising taxes on fat, sugar, chocolate, beer ... anything I have no interest in. Have I gone to the dark side? Sort of I suppose. I just want my fellow Americans who voted for this socialist/fascist crapola to feel more pain than I do. They want socialism? Fine! let's have so much socialism that everybody chokes on it. Break the bank completely.
Maybe "heaven" expects us to stand up on our hind legs and help ourselves. What do you think?
Don’t forget Jolt, Red Bull and others.
That sounds like the opening of a book about the revolution that finally put Americans back on the right track of constitutional law: "It was the great Bacon Ban of 2010 that finally broke the camels back. Starting in June of 2010 an onerous tax of $5.00 per pound was placed on bacon and the Americans exploded in anger! Descending on Washington,DC and chanting "no more pork, give us back our bacon!" the people stormed congress and began(to be continued)"..Now I need to round out the rest of the book.
That’s what I’m talking about. Aim that socialism at something so fundamental to American life that suddenly every pitchfork, bucket of tar and feather pillow in the country is bought off of the shelves. Bacon ought to do it. And a twenty dollar tax on turkeys in November.
good bye diet Pepsi....I loved ya when a I had ya!
believe it or not, its the skinny older women who suffer from hip fractures...and develop curvatures of their spines.......
we might as well mandate that no tv or radio after 12midnight because lack of sleep affects your health greatly.......geesh..
where does it end.....we'll be like Brave New World very soon..
I didn’t say I agree with the logic; I’m just saying that’s likely the rationale the liberals are using.
I don’t support national health care. I do support providing health care to those who can’t afford it, as my mom’s cousin just passed away because he was unable to get heart surgery after being laid off. He didn’t tell anyone, and he died of a massive heart attack.
It’s not my reasoning. I’m saying it’s likely the reasoing the liberals are using.
I agree, and I am one who is thin and can drink soda. I don’t support this increase on taxes or the government making health decisions regarding food, sleep, etc. I’m just saying this may be the reasoning the liberals are using.
Senate leaders should spend some time thinking about the level to which they are exceeding their constitutional mandate by attempting to create 'the nation's health-care system.'
tax of three cents per 12-ounce serving to these types of sweetened drinks would generate $24 billion
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So 30 cents would generate 200 billion?
They tax soda, I’m not buying it. I’m not paying for some risky health care scheme, if I can help it.
O no! I am a sugary soda drinking Christian! I must have missed the “thou shalt not drink sugary sodas” part. Maybe I have the wrong versions of The Bible. Christians are “real people”, Christ Himself born low. I can understand why people are always thinking Christians are “holier than thou”. Speck- Board. Nuff said.
When have they ever kissed you first?
I can see it now: the U.S.S.A. National American Wagyu Beef Company.
I can do it again. Paging Democrat Senator Nelson. (no reason to contact Mel Martinez).
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