Posted on 02/18/2010 5:10:32 PM PST by NormsRevenge
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – A California lawmaker introduced legislation on Thursday that would tax sodas and other sugar-sweetened drinks and use the proceeds to bankroll programs to fight childhood obesity.
The bill, introduced by Democratic Senate Majority Leader Dean Florez, would slap a 1-cent levy on every teaspoon of added sugar and other caloric sweeteners in commercial beverages sold.
The tax would be paid by companies that bottle soda and make finished beverages or syrup for fountain drinks, sponsors said.
Initial projections from the California Center for Public Health Advocacy estimated the excise tax on beverage distributors could raise $1.5 billion a year, with funds going directly to cities and schools to pay for childhood obesity prevention programs throughout the state.
California has been a pioneer of public health initiatives -- it was the first state to pass menu-labeling rules and implemented bans on artery-clogging trans-fats in restaurants and on soda sales in public schools.
Bill Dombrowski, president of the California Retailers Association, said the bill introduced by Florez was more about raising revenue than improving health.
"We view it as the first of what's going to be a series of attempts to raise revenue by the state, given its current budget crisis."
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
It’s for the obese children, yaknow...
Anyone who really believes that this has anything to do with “childhood obesity” might be doing too many recreational drugs.
This nanny-state government is stepping way beyond their constitutional authority.
If they really want to raise money how about charge politicians $5 for every lie. That would fill the coffers in no time.
LOL!
un-friggin-believable
Because Californians don’t pay enough taxes.
I'd be embarassed to even mention the idea.
It'll be interesting in restaurants and diners when the waitress puts 2 cents on the coffee bill.
Your right my man no corporation will pay any tax its the little guy the consumer that gets it in the shorts every time a mean evil corporation is taxed
The soda pop tax is already a fact in Illinois.
Just what California needs: more taxes. :)
Illinois already has it, wow. They’re at the Vanguard of the Progressive movement .. Home of The Machine.. ...
$100 for every lie
$1000 for every broken campaign promise
$10000 for every budget in the red
$5000 for every “Fee” that everyone has to pay (ie disguised tax)
$10000 for every useless make-work un-necessary project they vote to use public funds on
$10000 for every job killing piece of legislation they sponsor or vote for
California is broke and deeply in debt yet they insist on going in the same direction. Liberalism is truly a mental disorder
I don't know who thinks of it first, but the Scandinavian countries have perfected it's application. They tax everything their imperial federal government deems unhealthy. If you buy a cheeseburger, a beer and a chocolate Sunday, you have to take out a second mortgage.
Why stop at a penny?
Why not just a PerPerson Residency Tax?
Government officials fan out and stop everyone and force them to pay $50. Just because. Jail those who aren’t carrying $50.
Wait, they’d have to leave the office. That’ll never happen.
heh
$25000 for every piece of big brother, freedom taking legislation they vote for / sponsor / propose
$25000 for every nanny state / welfare state piece of legislation that takes more and more money from producers’ families and transfers to non-workers
$50 grand for votes on laws they haven’t read
$100 grand fines for pork that they were given to buy their vote on an issue
Fixed it.
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