CA: Higher state tax on beer? (1500% increase proposed,, by a Dem, of course)

Mercury News ^ | 4/11/08 | Mike Zapler

[NormsRevenge]

SACRAMENTO - Joe Six-pack will have to pay a lot more to get his buzz on if Assemblyman Jim Beall has his way.

The San Jose Democrat on Thursday proposed raising the beer tax by $1.80 per six-pack, or 30 cents per can or bottle. The current tax is 2 cents per can. That's an increase of about 1,500 percent.

Beall said the tax would generate $2 billion a year to fund health care services, crime prevention and programs to prevent underage drinking and addiction.

"The people who use alcohol should pay for part of the cost to society, just like we've accepted that concept with tobacco," Beall said.

He added that the beer tax hasn't been touched since 1991, and the increase then was meager.

But the freshman lawmaker will have to lift the legislative equivalent of a full keg of beer over his head to get his tax enacted. That's because it would require a two-thirds vote in the Assembly and Senate - and then, because it's a constitutional amendment, it would have to be approved by voters. Republicans say it's a non-starter.

"I predict the shelf life will be very short," said Assemblyman Roger Niello, R-Sacramento, vice chairman of the budget committee. ...

Mike Fox Sr., chairman of San Jose-based beer distributor M.E. Fox & Co., said Beall's heart is in the right place. "He's very dedicated in areas of health," Fox said. "But a tax of that nature is far too grievous. The beer industry produces so much for the economy. He won't get to first base with that."

Dan Gordon, co-founder of Gordon Biersch Brewing Co., calculated that the tax on a barrel of beer would go from $6.40 to $89. "We would all be looking for jobs," he said.

[martin_fierro]

Joe Six-pack will have to pay a lot more to get his buzz on if Assemblyman Jim Beall has his way.

Get 'im, boys.

[dashing doofus]

Unamerican bastard. Imagine what the Founders would think of this stupid, hare-brained, revenue raising scheme.

[jazusamo]

MORE BEER, less tax!

[FoxInSocks]

"The people who use alcohol should pay for part of the cost to society, just like we've accepted that concept with tobacco," Beall said.

Ahhhh, incrementalism. Gee, who didn't see this coming years and years and years ago.

[KrisKrinkle]

Do a Google search on “Whiskey Rebellion”.

[Lurker]

Imagine what the Founders would think of this stupid, hare-brained, revenue raising scheme.

You want to be careful with that line of reasoning. Look into The Whiskey Rebellion.

George Washington himself led Federal troops to put down the insurrection.

L

[Mr. Brightside]

How about an abortion tax to fund family planning services?

[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

Imagine what the Founders would think of this stupid, hare-brained, revenue raising scheme.

That's right. Why tax beer when you can tax whiskey. (And we all know what happened after that.)

[telebob]

Limo liberal, wine drinker, rat politician. ‘Nuff said.

[JoeSixPack1]

....just like we've accepted that concept with tobacco," Beall said.

The concept??
The concept of tar and feathering control-freak politicians was great too!

[vigilence]

He’s got it all wrong. Classical class envy dictates that he higher tax should be placed on the beverages of the rich...wine, champagne, brandy etc. Oh wait....then it would be he paying the taxes instead of middle class Americans, can’t have that.

[Living Free in NH]

Why can’t we shoot stupid politicians?

[Living Free in NH]

More people eat peas than drink beer. Why doesn’t he propose a pea tax? Hey, that’s it!!! EVERYONE pees. Tax that, instead.

[LetsRok]

How about a surtax on people with children instead of a tax credit? People with children use more gubmit services (i.e. schools, youth leagues) than people without children.

[albie]

Good! Californians deserve what they vote for! Of course, this actually has an effect on the people that didn’t want scumbag dems in the 1st place.

[Foolsgold]

The Real History Of The World

Humans originally existed as members of small bands of nomadic hunters/gatherers. They lived on deer in the mountains during the summer and would go to the coast and live on fish and lobster in the winter.

The two most important events in all of history were the invention of beer and the invention of the wheel. The wheel was invented to get man to the beer.

These were the foundation of modern civilization and together were the catalyst for the splitting of humanity into two distinct subgroups:

1. Liberals; and
2. Conservatives.

Once beer was discovered, it required grain and that was the beginning of agriculture. Neither the glass bottle nor aluminum can were invented yet, so while our early humans were sitting around waiting for them to be invented, they just stayed close to the brewery. That's how villages were formed.

Some men spent their days tracking and killing animals to B-B-Q at night while they were drinking beer. This was the beginning of what is known as the Conservative movement.

Other men who were weaker and less skilled at hunting learned to live off the conservatives by showing up for the nightly B-B-Q's and doing the sewing, fetching, and hair dressing. This was the beginning of the Liberal movement. Some of these liberal men eventually evolved into women. The rest became known as girliemen.

Some noteworthy liberal achievements include the domestication of cats, the invention of group therapy, group hugs, and the concept of Democratic voting to decide how to divide the meat and beer that conservatives provided.

Over the years conservatives came to be symbolized by the largest, most powerful land animal on earth, the elephant. Liberals are symbolized by the jackass. Modern liberals like imported beer (with lime added), but most prefer white wine or imported bottled water. They eat raw fish but like their beef well done. Sushi, tofu, and French food are standard liberal fare.

Another interesting evolutionary side note: most of their women have higher testosterone levels than their men. Most social workers, personal injury attorneys, journalists, dreamers in Hollywood and group therapists are liberals. Liberals invented the designated hitter rule because it wasn't fair to make the pitcher also bat.

Conservatives drink domestic beer. They eat red meat and still provide for their women. Conservatives are big-game hunters, rodeo cowboys, lumberjacks, construction workers, firemen, medical doctors, police officers, corporate executives, athletes, Marines, and generally anyone who works productively. Conservatives who own companies hire other conservatives who want to work for a living.

Liberals produce little or nothing. They like to govern the producers and decide what to do with the production. Liberals believe Europeans are more enlightened than Americans. That is why most of the liberals remained in Europe when conservatives were coming to America. They crept in after the Wild West was tamed and created a business of trying to get more for nothing.

Here ends today's lesson in world history: It should be noted that a Liberal may have a momentary urge to angrily respond to the above before forwarding it. A Conservative will simply laugh and be so convinced of the absolute truth of this history that it will be forwarded immediately to other true believers and to more liberals just to tic them off.

If you laugh (or smile), you're a Conservative. If you get ticked off, you're a Liberal.

[CSM]

The people who use alcohol should pay for part of the cost to society, just like we’ve accepted that concept with tobacco,” Beall said.”

New ox to gore ping!

[VeniVidiVici]

"The people who use alcohol should pay for part of the cost to society, just like we've accepted that concept with tobacco," Beall said.

Does this mean that CA lawmakers who establish sanctuary cities and allow illegals to run-up a never ending tab on the public's dime should be held responsible for paying the hugely increased costs associated with unfetered illegal immigration?

Great! Then I'm all for it!

[Signalman]

“Don’t...Tax...Beer!”

Al Bundy

[timm22]

The San Jose Democrat on Thursday proposed raising the beer tax by $1.80 per six-pack, or 30 cents per can or bottle. The current tax is 2 cents per can. That's an increase of about 1,500 percent.

Is there a legislative equivalent to the Darwin Awards?

This guy might as well propose an "I hate apple pie and babies" bill.

[Amerigomag]

Please remind our beer guzzling friends here on FR that this is an unusual proposal. A Democrat sponsored tax on the poor to pay for health care for the poor.

From my perspective I'd rather the poor and the illegal dip into their own pocket, not mine. This seems poetic justice if the General Fund is going to be redistributed to the consequences of illegal Mexican immigration.

[timm22]

New ox to gore ping!

I'm torn on this one.

As a person who appreciates a nice cold beer, my heart goes out to those poor Californians who might have to pay this onerous tax.

But as a person who enjoys poetic justice, I hope the new tax IS imposed. That way, all the smug idiots who sang the praises of smoke-free California bars will also get to enjoy the unintended consequences of their smoking ban.

[FrankR]

""The people who use alcohol should pay for part of the cost to society, just like we've accepted that concept with tobacco," Beall said. "

Give a mouse a cookie, he'll want a glass of milk!

They're going to keep it up until they've taxed everything that we enjoy, out of existence. It'll be food, cellphones, video games, TV's, Ice Cream Cones, Hot showers, sex...

...what'cha gonna do when they come for you?

[andy58-in-nh]

This is a perfect example of the ultimate danger of socializing risk. When the government indemnifies individuals against the consequences of their own behavior (e.g. - Medicaid for indigent lung cancer patients; free rehab services for drunken bums), the state can then claim a right to regulate and/or tax the risk factors themselves. Loss of freedom follows as the power of the state grows.

[goldstategop]

Its not going anywhere. Democrats would have run against beer drinkers in California and that's as welcome as Typhoid Mary.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus

[CSM]

It is rather poetic. On that I agree.

Have a great weekend.

[PISANO]

Anyone who doesn't see SOCIALISM gaining ground daily into our culture has blinders on.

Hussein Obama wants to cap CEO pay, Hilliary wants to nationalize health care. Politicians decry the "ENERGY" crises as they march lock-step with environmentalists denying the United States it's OWN oil resources and virtually every politician on both sides of the aisle never met a REGULATION they didn't like.

If either of the two Dems win in NOV and the congress stays with the left there will be no stopping cacophonous rise of SOCIALISM!!

A government big enough to give you everything you want, is strong enough to take from you everything you have........Gerald Ford, Aug 12, 1974

[Publius6961]

I think this is a great idea!
It should be 3000%

It's for the children.
Besides, I don't drink beer.

Just saying.

[Publius6961]

That's because it would require a two-thirds vote in the Assembly and Senate - and then, because it's a constitutional amendment, it would have to be approved by voters. Republicans say it's a non-starter.

OK then.
Can someone 'splain to me how they managed to do it with cigarettes?

[steveo]

More people eat peas than drink beer. Why doesn’t he propose a pea tax? Hey, that’s it!!! EVERYONE pees. Tax that, instead.

Especially after several beers!

[libh8er]

[B Knotts]

How about just a tax on beer brewed with rice and other adjuncts, on the basis that such "beer" is an affront to humanity?

;-)

[timm22]

Thanks, you too CSM.

[elkfersupper]

Contrary to what happened the last time we tried this (Prohibition), only the use and transport of the product is now effectively banned.

It was done this time without a Constitutional amendment, which was obviously neccessary to the population the last time this was tried.

[elkfersupper]

If we propose a tax on mashed ‘taters, maybe that guy will get the message.

[Callahan]

Lol I read about this idiot just as I was cracking a nice Bell’s Hopslam — the best beer in the world. The question is what won’t these Dem douchebags tax to fund their socialist schemes.

[Last Dakotan]

First they came for the smokers and I said nothing...

[GOP_Lady]

Good. Let them tax beer like they tax tobacco products to help prevent alcohol addiction, medical bills caused by alcohol, social programs, etc., etc., etc., BECAUSE I DON'T DRINK BEER — IT TASTES NASY! It's not like the users of tobacco products didn't warn you. Welcome to the nanny-state. THIS CRAP HAS GO TO STOP.

[GOP_Lady]

And when they come for the fat people, this skinny person is going to watch and laugh.

[GOP_Lady]

Oh, lets ban beer in public places, too, where there will be nowhere for like-minded adults to socialize together over beer. I shouldn't have to smell “beer breath.”

[PSYCHO-FREEP]

What?

Hold another Boston Beer Party? I could live with that....

[OKIEDOC]

Assemblyman Jim Beall = 1500% increase in Tax

COMMENT:

Don't worry folks the assault has just begun on Joe Six Pack.

The California CRV is one of the biggest rip offs since Democrats formed a political party.

Assemblyman Jim Beall should be a dire omen for all of what the future would hold should Hillary or Obama be elected.

No wonder so many of Kalifornias solid citizens are leaving for sanity in other states.

I did not vote for this idiot so does anyone know anything about this fruit cake living so near me.

[cartoonistx]

[NormsRevenge]

LOLOLOL