Albany, NY - Soda Tax Going Down the Drain |
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News Source: AP
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Albany, NY - A proposed new tax on sugary drinks appears unlikely to pass the state Senate, despite passionate campaigning by New York Gov. David Paterson and his health commissioner.
Supporters have pushed the tax as a way to combat obesity while bolstering funding for state health programs. But a number of Democratic senators are opposed, along with the entire Republican conference. With a 31-30 Democrat-Republican split in the chamber, the measure isn’t expected to draw the minimum 32 votes needed for passage.
The proposal would add a penny per ounce to the price of soda and sugary drinks with less than 70 percent fruit juice. It’s been projected to generate $1 billion annually when fully implemented and reduce consumption of the drinks by 15 percent.
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Read Comments (16) — Post Yours »
1
Mar 15, 2010 at 02:18 PM HateThatPol Says:Report as Inappropriate
If only Patterson would join the soda tax
2
Mar 15, 2010 at 02:25 PM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
Right! Keep your hands of my soda!...
3
Mar 15, 2010 at 02:26 PM outoftown yeshivish Says:Report as Inappropriate
What are they gonna do next, ban doubles of cholent and gribitz?
This is micromanaging a society and it doen't lead anywhere good.
BTW, diet sodas are full of garbage which may be more harmful and sickly than sugar.
4
Mar 15, 2010 at 02:35 PM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
Its actually a really steep tax. It a penny an ounce for all drinks. So for a 2 liter bottle of soda you would get hit with a 64 cent tax on a bottle of soda that only costs about one dollar.
But there is so much more to be taxed.
Children's juice drinks which are heavily watered down to reduce sugar intake and acid, would also be taxed at the same rate,
So for example, a gallon of juice with 10 calories a serving, that costs 2 dollars, would get his with an additional $1.28 soda tax, along with a $.17 cent sales tax, making the new price $3.45 for the item. an almost 75% tax on these items. This is a purely revenue raising item, that is wrong and ridiculous.
5
Mar 15, 2010 at 03:14 PM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
Great! Although I agree its not healthy, and I never touch these drinks. I believe this was just another way to tax the middle class which can't make it as is.
6
Mar 15, 2010 at 03:21 PM Id rather they tax soda. Says:Report as Inappropriate
Bloomeberg won't give up, if he can't get his way with soda he will raise taxes on chocolate....whatever he will find something to tax!
7
Mar 15, 2010 at 03:35 PM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
cookies are next.
stock up!
8
Mar 15, 2010 at 04:44 PM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
Not everyone who drinks Soda is obese, but many obese people drink DIET soda, the tax will miss them completely. The clear answer is to only charge the tax on obese people, this is the intention anyhow.
9
Mar 15, 2010 at 04:49 PM m Says:Report as Inappropriate
“ cookies are next.
stock up! ”
Peach is coming!
10
Mar 15, 2010 at 08:04 PM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
“ Not everyone who drinks Soda is obese, but many obese people drink DIET soda, the tax will miss them completely. The clear answer is to only charge the tax on obese people, this is the intention anyhow. ”
The intention is to generate revenue for the state under the guise of promoting good health.
11
Mar 15, 2010 at 08:29 PM PMO Says:Report as Inappropriate
“ Not everyone who drinks Soda is obese, but many obese people drink DIET soda, the tax will miss them completely. The clear answer is to only charge the tax on obese people, this is the intention anyhow. ”
Why just obese people? Why not charge extra taxes on people with higher than average cholesterol levels? Perhaps we should charge higher taxes on people with high sodium intake? Maybe, we should charge higher taxes for people who choose to live in more polluted areas of the city where cancer rates are higher?
I love the phony attitudes of the closet liberals who like to say the right things and bash the Democrats, all the while they say thing like "Tax THEM, don't tax me... that would not be fair". I love it.
If you want to make some money, legalize marijuana and tax it. Estimates in CA put the possible revenues for that state in the BILLIONS of dollars. NY should be no different. Get rid of the underground market and the gang violence that goes along with it, all the while making it legal and a source of revenue.
12
Mar 15, 2010 at 08:45 PM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
I think it is better to have a soda tax then cutting health care and other important services.
13
Mar 15, 2010 at 08:48 PM Go fly a kite Says:Report as Inappropriate
Tax diet soda, artificial sweeteners aren't healthy. Tax potato chips, tax ice cream, tax french fries, fried chicken, etc. Tax extra large size clothing. All these politicians just want our money. They don't really care if we're healthy or not.
14
Mar 15, 2010 at 10:39 PM Shmuela Says:Report as Inappropriate
B'H (its not like they were going to use the money to help people eat better) another tax we don't have to worry about
15
Mar 16, 2010 at 12:14 AM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
“ The intention is to generate revenue for the state under the guise of promoting good health. ”
You hit the nail right on the head, that proposed penny per ounce soda tax which by the way is really a (55% tax on a 2 liter bottle) is just a scam to promote better health, give us all a break Bloomie, youre insulting your inteligance and our's all it is just another clever way of taxing the poor public
the lobbyists at Pepsi & Coke will never let this happen
so forget about this proposed thievery it won't fly
16
Mar 16, 2010 at 01:56 AM Liberalism is a Disease!!! Says:Report as Inappropriate
I have a better idea. GET RID OF ALL LIBERALS AS WELL AS RINOs and life will be wonderful!