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.
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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.
If only Patterson would join the soda tax
Right! Keep your hands of my soda!…
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.
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.
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.
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!
cookies are next.
stock up!
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.
I think it is better to have a soda tax then cutting health care and other important services.
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.
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
I have a better idea. GET RID OF ALL LIBERALS AS WELL AS RINOs and life will be wonderful!