Posted on 05/12/2009 2:35:48 AM PDT by PghBaldy
Senate leaders are considering new federal taxes on soda and other sugary drinks to help pay for an overhaul of the nation's health-care system.
The taxes would pay for only a fraction of the cost to expand health-insurance coverage to all Americans and would face strong opposition from the beverage industry. They also could spark a backlash from consumers who would have to pay several cents more for a soft drink.
On Tuesday, the Senate Finance Committee is set to hear proposals from about a dozen experts about how to pay for the comprehensive health-care overhaul that President Barack Obama wants to enact this year. Early estimates put the cost of the plan at around $1.2 trillion. The administration has so far only earmarked funds for about half of that amount.
The Center for Science in the Public Interest, a Washington-based watchdog group that pressures food companies to make healthier products, plans to propose a federal excise tax on soda, certain fruit drinks, energy drinks, sports drinks and ready-to-drink teas. It would not include most diet beverages. Excise taxes are levied on goods and manufacturers typically pass them on to consumers.
Senior staff members for some Democratic senators at the center of the effort to craft health-care legislation are weighing the idea behind closed doors, Senate aides said.
The Congressional Budget Office, which is providing lawmakers with cost estimates for each potential change in the health overhaul, included the option in a broad report on health-system financing in December. The office estimated that adding a tax of three cents per 12-ounce serving to these types of sweetened drinks would generate $24 billion over the next four years. So far, lawmakers have not indicated how big a tax they are considering.
(Excerpt) Read more at online.wsj.com ...
They can have my bacon when they pry it from my cold dead hands!
After all, he did say "Every body's got to have some skin in this game."
If George Harrison were alive today, he’d be proud to see his song Taxman coming true.
The federal tax increase affects all tobacco products, but loose tobacco is facing the most significant change — from a $1.10 per pound tax to a whopping $24.78 per pound tax.
That was from an article I read about two or three months ago. Verified this for myself at the local tobacco store. A 1lb bag of tobacco went from about 6 bucks a pound to 35 or so.
Growing my own. It’s a little late in the season, but still doable.
seedman.com
Why not tax our beds, too.
Seriously, apparently the soft drink manufacturers did not give enough money to the Obama election campaign. Let's be real here, if they were big backers of his, this would not be considered. Maybe they don't use union labor or not the right union or something. It is pure punishment for an industry. This is an insane administration.
Hmmm. Who would this tax effect the most? The same people that the cigarette tax effected the most.
The poor. Of course the most of them voted for 0bama so maybe its just rewards.
I drink water most of the time anyway so making the full time switch would be pretty easy.
Don't tell Jonah Goldberg.
Um, I think what Glenn was saying was a parody. Replace soda drinkers with cigarette smokers and you’ll get the drift.
the Baroness
Ignorant peasants don't know how to spend it properly.
The District of Criminals knows best.
“The poor” are the ones who most need (and want) the nanny state.
After all, they don’t have enough common sense to eat properly and avoid smoking, so the elites have to make those decisions for them.
As Larry King stated “someone’s gotta think for the masses”.
(Note, this is NOT my viewpoint, but IS the viewpoint of the leftists, elitists, and their sheeple supporters)
So obama found a way to destruct yet another American entity.
what’s left? Banks, gone, automakers gone, energy companies gone, manufacturing companies soon to be gone, jobs gone. medicare, social security gone, stock market gone, 401K’s gone, liberty gone.
green, up, unions, up, juvenile delinquents in jobs, up, deficit, up. Wealthy paying higher premiums for Medicare going up to pay for healthcare, gay marriage up for tax dollars, Triad marriage next, socialism up, thug threats up, government fraud up, ACORN funding up, legalize marijuana/drugs for taxes up, terrorists in America up, tax dollars for terrorists Up, tobacco and soda taxes up.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/cq/20090305/pl_cq_politics/politics3066570
Obama’s Proposed Tax Hike on Distillers Instills Worry in Alcohol Industry
remember when Rush used to push that stuff...back in the early '90s, he was a bigtime snapple guy back then?
With the govt. deciding who gets what care and when...the lowly people, and those who smoke or drink, or who have no jobs, or no worth to the govt., or who are old and and receiving social security will be the last in line for health care to get any life-saving treatments. Soon, all those will die off...and they will have fewer smoking, drinking, old or seriously ill people to take care of.
In the meantime, Obama's other plan is to also kill all unwanted babies by govt. decree and funds. You know, once the govt. funds anything, they start to make the decisions. Eventually the govt. will pick who has children, who does not, how many, etc. Again, fewer kids who might live on the dole and require health care.
Bottom line - the surviving citizens will keep paying the higher and higher taxes, there will be fewer people...and the government continually gets more money and more powerful to control and spend as they want. Sound familiar?
The federal tax increase affects all tobacco products, but loose tobacco is facing the most significant change — from a $1.10 per pound tax to a whopping $24.78 per pound tax.Yes. Loose tobacco taxes did go up. My cigarette store guy told me that. But it's still a whole lot cheaper than buying a Carton.That was from an article I read about two or three months ago. Verified this for myself at the local tobacco store. A 1lb bag of tobacco went from about 6 bucks a pound to 35 or so.
The 6 oz can I buy makes more than a carton and is now $19.98 with all state local and Fed tobacco taxes included, it used to be iirc $9.98 (I was still buying my Camels then). But a carton of non filter Camels in my county is over $70.00 now. And in nearby Chicago they're over $90.00
hmmm some enterprising person could make a nice profit that way. wonder if the Chicago Outfit has thought about that? they sure could use the money now. /s
I’d give a donation to my Congressman to counter this with an amendment to tax Colt 45.
Works every time.
Obama was never dreaming about his father, he was dreaming how to infomericals demonstrating how he could exponentially increase spending and revenues once he became king hussein.
Hmmm let’s see. What do the serfs like the most? Well they like their beer, their tv, their sodas, and yea, their smokes. Uhmmm. Now there is a list of income sources that will be endless. No true american serf will ever give up any of their favorite things.
WHAT ABOUT AN ADDITIONAL TAX ON COFFEE ??
CAFFEINE IS BAD FOR YOU AND OUGHT TO BE DISCOURAGED.
HEY, SINCE THE RICH CAN AFFORD ESPRESSO AND CAPUCCINO, THAT’s THE NEXT LOGICAL PRODUCT TO TAX AS WELL.
ANY TAKERS ?
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