Congressional BID FOR 145% BEER-TAX HIKE

NY Post ^ | May 21, 2009 | staff writer

[yankeedame]

BID FOR 145% BEER-TAX HIKE

WASHINGTON -- Drunk on power and dazed by ambition, members of Congress have stumbled upon a novel way to keep their spending binge rolling -- and leave American taxpayers with the hangover.

Under a Senate proposal, Congress would raise the federal excise tax on beer by 145 percent to more than $3 a case.

Uncle Sam also would snatch an additional $7 on a case of wine -- a staggering increase of 233 percent and an additional 20 percent on hard liquor sales.

"Buzz-kill doesn't even begin to describe this invasion," said a GOP congressional aide....

Sen. Max Baucus (D-Mont.) and Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) were quick to say they do not necessarily support the proposals they pitched. They were tossing them out there only as options for paying for President Obama's proposed massive government takeover of the health- care industry.

[GeorgiaDawg32]

but the promise was to not raise taxes on those making under $250k...

[libertarian27]

Anarchy!!!!!

[neodad]

Beer party!

[GeronL]

is this the same bill that has a nickel a can tax on soda? and a myriad of other taxes??

[andy58-in-nh]

Time to break out the homebrew equipment again. Torches and pitchforks wouldn’t be a bad idea, either.

[JohnBrowdie]

they were talking about taxing soda last week. chocolate is probably next. sometime in The year 2 of The Savior Obama, he will tax you for being overweight.

a certain number of dollars for every pound that you are over your Nationally Mandated Weight Allowance.

[John123]

Didn’t the state of Oregon recently enacted a massive tax on beer? And never-you-mind that one of the biggest industries in Oregon is the microbreweries...

[dblshot]

Doh! Now I wish I had voted for the old wrinkly guy.

[Eagle of Liberty]

but the promise was to not raise taxes on those making under $250k...

Methinks that they are TRYING to get us to revolt. There cannot be any other reason. Well, one other reason, maybe they are trying to see how much we will tolerate. I am not going to tolerate much more.

[Psycho_Bunny]

"Sen. Max Baucus (D-Mont.) and Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) were quick to say they do not necessarily support the proposals they pitched."

I have so many things to say about these two. I really do. So many.

[Eagle of Liberty]

is this the same bill that has a nickel a can tax on soda? and a myriad of other taxes??

Yep. They are trying to tax anything that DEAR LEADER and his COMRADES IN CONGRESS deem unhealthy life decisions as they try to fund Universal Healthcare.

[Lokibob]

“The Senate Committee is focusing on behaviors that contribute to the country’s rising medical costs. Rumor has it they are also looking at adding a tax to soda and other sugar laden drinks which are thought to have a causal connection to obesity. The wine producers claim since wine has shown some health benefits it shouldn’t be included in a “lifestyle choice” tax.”

From http://www.examiner.com/x-6989-Ft-Lauderdale-City-Buzz-Examiner~y2009m5d21-Beer-tax-to-rise-if-Congress-gets-their-waywhats-next

....Bob

[GeronL]

is there a list of things being proposed for tax in this bill somewhere??

[Little Ray]

With all that stockpiled ammo out there, I whole-heartedly support the Beer Tax... as long as I don’t have to stand anywhere near a Congresscritter who voted for it.

[rovenstinez]

Those mountains still’s will crank up and the Hatfields and McCoy’s will be at it again, to see whose Mountain Dew gets to the local bootleggers. Fun..Fun...

[mosaicwolf]

I think the states need to expand the Montana Gun State Right issue to Alcohol and Tobacco. Make it a nice, easily understood acronym like ATF. Those are the real cash cows.

[Attention Surplus Disorder]

It’s gonna be so much fun to live under our new dear leader.

[Oldeconomybuyer]

They were tossing them out there only as options for paying for President Obama's proposed massive government takeover of the health- care industry.

OK, let's stop paying for NPR. Eliminate non-profit status for Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton, and the ACLU. Assess a 245% tax on Birkenstock's, organic food, and Starbucks coffee. Levy a 345% tax on Michael Moore movies or any assets held by people whose name rhymes with Soros.

[Nathan Zachary]

I said this before, Obama will go for massive SIN tax hikes to raise the money he desperately needs. Beer, whiskey, cigarettes, and junk food. $11.25 a pack cigarettes here we come...

[Eagle of Liberty]

Not sure.

[oyez]

Time to learn home brewing.

[TC Rider]

Spread the pain I say. O taxed the bejeezus out of my cigars a few months ago to little comment.

[Nathan Zachary]

"a certain number of dollars for every pound that you are over your Nationally Mandated Weight Allowance."

That won't go over very well in welfare communities. Some of those Mama's are 400lbs overweight.

[Eagle of Liberty]

Sad part is that “The proposed tax on alcohol is estimated to raise $60 billion over the next 10 years” is only a drop in the bucket when they are estimating that it will cost 1.5 TRILLION for Universal Healthcare in this country and that is probably a severe underestimation.

[mosaicwolf]

"The wine producers claim since wine has shown some health benefits it shouldn’t be included in a “lifestyle choice” tax.”

Beer should fall into this same category. My Grandfather used to have a bowl of beer (room temperature) with stale bread floating in it every day of his life. He lived until 98.

[Wil H]

but the promise was to not raise taxes on those making under $250k...

I'll drink to that!...oh hang on...

[mdmathis6]

When Republicans backed and Bush signed the on anti on line gambling act, a lot of young would be conservatives sat on their hands in 2006 and we lost the congress. It was that one issue that was a losing issue for a lot of folks.

The Dem’s may be looking at a similar debacle if they pass this booze tax!

[Erik Latranyi]

The Senate Committee is focusing on behaviors that contribute to the country’s rising medical costs.

And this is BEFORE socialized healthcare is put into place!

Just imagine what they are going to do AFTER they have full control........

[IrishPennant]

Sen. Max Baucus (D-Mont.) and Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) were quick to say they do not necessarily support the proposals they pitched.

These guys are pure idiots...if this is not Taxation without Representation, I don't know what is.

It was 3 pennies per pound that started the Boston Tea Party!!!!

[GeorgiaDawg32]

and just like people who rolled their own cigarettes, taxes will be massively increased on the ingredients making home-brew just as expensive..just watch and see..

[bmwcyle]

This is a much better idea than a tea party.

[basil]

I wonder who supplies dear leader with his cigarettes, and how much in tax he pays for them. Moot question—I’m sure obammy doesn’t pay for much out of his own pocket.

[IrishPennant]

Yea...at a Beer Party we can have hot chicks!!!

[Beagle8U]

“Time to learn home brewing.”

The Kenyon Commie will do the same as he did to roll your own tobacco, 2200% tax increase!!

[Bobalu]

Alcohol is so easy to make.
Water+turboyeast+sugar and in a few days you get 40 proof swill for almost no $$$

Of course they will probably tax sugar and yeast before it’s all over.

[StAntKnee]

Now this tax is a great idea.

Let the nanny state do it.

Watch what happens.

All this time we been talking about philosophy. It’s all about the beer, stupid.

Overreach? The word does not suffice.

[Nathan Zachary]

"Time to learn home brewing."

Na. Beer is cheap in the USA. even if the price doubled it will still be cheap. When it gets up to $24 a 12 pack like Canada, (and it will with Obama)then start brewing your own.

[andy58-in-nh]

Well, it will be great to hear Foggy Mountain Breakdown playing again as I get chased by them "Revenooers" in my old jalopy deliverin' Mason jars of white lightning to the boys down at the Broken Spoke. Yeeeehaaaw!! Hey: if we're gonna relive the Great Depression, we might as well have some fun!!!!

[bmwcyle]

Oh boy, drunk, easy conservative chicks.

[palmer]

Water+turboyeast+sugar and in a few days you get 40 proof swill

Hang on, I'll be right over!

[skr]

Higher taxes, decreased purchases, less tax collected. How do they not know this?

A black market might do very well, though.

[Nathan Zachary]

"Sad part is that “The proposed tax on alcohol is estimated to raise $60 billion over the next 10 years” is only a drop in the bucket when they are estimating that it will cost 1.5 TRILLION for Universal Healthcare in this country and that is probably a severe underestimation."

I.5 trillion isn't just a severe underestimation, it's a joke. That's less than what it costs in Canada for 30 million people. It will cost at LEAST 10 times that here, plus cause a massive collapse of the insurance industry, and massive layoffs.

[IrishPennant]

Tag me...I’m in!

[b4its2late]

I’ll have to start making my own.

[servantboy777]

Time for another spot of TEA.

[Eagle of Liberty]

I’ll have to start making my own.

I can teach you if you like to drink ales, porters and bocks.

[tflabo]

Knock-Knock—Hello GOP, anybody home? This is a hanging curve right down the middle of the plate. Any leader(s) worth even 1/10th of one cajone should be out there SCREAMING about the tyrannical, oppressive government tactics foisted on the American people. Or have the limp weenies forgotten this nation’s founding history fighting the tyrrany of Britain?

[Nathan Zachary]

Alcohol is so easy to make. Water+turboyeast+sugar and in a few days you get 40 proof swill for almost no $$$

Just brew beer and distill it.

[GeorgiaDawg32]

Knock-Knock—Hello GOP, anybody home? This is a hanging curve right down the middle of the plate. From the article: Sen. Max Baucus (D-Mont.) and Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa)

A member of the GOP is behind this ridiculous idea..