[kattracks]

ping

[chainsaw]

to create a variety of new programs that would, among other things, discourage smoking

I thought that was what the tobacco settlement was for, among other things.

[SkyPilot]

Booz, Butts,.....Targeted for Tax Hikes...

It is about time California tax Homosexuality! The revenues will be astronomical! Brilliant!

[Prodigal Son]

I know it would never happen, but my fantasy would have these three industries simply stop selling their products in California altogether (or at least threaten to do so) in retaliation. No law against it and it would effectively undermine these stupid laws. A good way of telling the socialists out there to go get stuffed.

[Dog Gone]

These folks have simply ruined what used to be the best state in the country.

[Inge_CAV]

"to create a variety of new programs that would, among other things, discourage smoking and child obesity."

And gubmint grows larger than ever.

We need spaying and neutering laws for gubmints.

[scouse]

Paul Knepprath, a lobbyist for the American Lung Association, which is spearheading support for the bill.

I would like to see a law which states that all people working for or at the American Lung Association should do it Pro Bono. All money raised should be used only for pulmonary research

[Lazamataz]

There will be, before I die, state mandated physical fitness programs.

Just like Nazi Germany and Communist China.

[Lazamataz]

Sen. Gloria Romero is working to institute an "alcohol retailer fee" which consumers would pay each time they bought a drink in the state. The amount of the fee has yet to be determined.

Why Gloria, it should clearly be one hundred zillion skadillion eleventy trillion dollars for one shot of alcohol.

In richest liberal tradition.

[wku man]

For some reason, a song keeps copming to mind...

"If you get too cold I'll tax your heat, if you take a walk I'll tax the streets..."

The Stevie Ray Vaughan cover version, that is.

Scouts Out! Cavalry Ho!

[Just another Joe]

"To place the majority of the tax burden on one group of people is fundamentally unfair,"

Are they JUST NOW figuring this out?

[mamelukesabre]

For the "never surrender" croud, I have a list

1) learn to brew your own beer and your own wine
2) you can make your own pop using dry ice for the CO2
3) buy tobacco from the indians and "roll your own"

You can buy a "bag of beer". All the ingredients come in a bag and all you do is add hot water. If you are really ambitious, you can buy the ingredients separate and brew it from scratch. Wine is simple to make compared to beer. I have made rootbeer in the past using dry ice to provide the carbonation. Now days, you can buy cigarette paper *with the filter attached*, so you can roll your own filter cigarettes. There is almost always a way around the "rules".

[Caipirabob]

Lordy, a "BUTT-TAX"? I'd better lose some weight, pronto...

[The Mayor]

just like NewYork, when all else fails go after these products and call it "the SIN tax"

[anymouse]

Pretty soon some one is going to start smuggling in Coke from Arizona. No not cocaine, bottles of Coca Cola. :)

[Clovis_Skeptic]

I just emailed Sen Ortiz, and gave her my opinion on this soda pop tax, and the senators on the revenue and tax comittee in the senate of Calif.

senator.scott@sen.ca.gov, pres of com.

Senator.Poochigian@sen.ca.gov , vp of com.

Senator.Ortiz@sen.ca.gov , author of the bill

[Clovis_Skeptic]

Sen Deborah Ortiz, looks like she has been chugging a few soda pops herself...

email the Senator

[Gophack]

Tobacco, liquor and soda pop are the target of a Democratic-controlled California Legislature that is seeking higher taxes on those products, not to fix a $17.5 billion state budget deficit, but to create a variety of new programs that would, among other things, discourage smoking and child obesity.

This is ridiculous! Kool-aid has more sugar and calories than soda! Why not exempt diet Coke and diet Pepsi?

You know, these so-called "sin taxes" make me sick. The taxes are raised to fund programs, but if the end result is achieved ... for example, everyone quits smoking ... there will be no money to fund the programs. Do you think the programs will disappear? NO!!!! They will just get money from everyone else to keep going.

This is pathetic. I really don't like Democrats.

[socal_parrot]

Another element of the fall out from Gov. Davis squandering our budget surplus. Will they tax diet sodas also?

Does anyone in California really call it pop?

[Clemenza]

I still beleive that we should tax adult establishments (strip clubs, adult book stores, etc). How about a porn tax?