Free Republic

They won’t be disguised as American Indians, and they won’t be protesting taxation without representation by the British. But they will visit the site of the Boston Tea Party - this time to herald the repeal of taxes. Massachusetts package store owners will gather at the Congress Street bridge next Thursday to ring in the new year that’ll see the lifting of the state sales tax on alcohol that took effect only last year. Voters in November passed a state ballot question that called for repealing the 6.25 percent sales tax on alcohol, but many consumers aren’t aware the tax...

California nanny-statists are at it again. This time their cross hairs are on Golden State residents who enjoy a nice glass of scotch or wine at the end of a long day. A ballot initiative proposed by Josie Whitney and Kent M. Whitney would increase the excise tax for hard liquor 2,703% (from $0.65 per 750 mL bottle to $17.57), raise the tax on beer 5,527% (from $0.11 per six-pack to $6.08), and a implement an astronomic 12,775% tax hike on wine (from $0.04 per 750 mL bottle to $5.11). Proponents allege that this would result in between $7 and...

<p>Sen. Gloria Romero, D-Los Angeles, speaks to the media about a bill she proposed that would tax alcohol to fund health care costs.</p> <p>The makers of wine, beer and spirits should pay a fee to bolster California's sagging emergency care system and help bridge the state's massive budget gap, according to a state senator who introduced a bill Thursday to impose a 5-cents-a-drink fee.</p>