NY Governor Wants to Tax Soda
Categories: In The News
New York State Gov. David Patterson proposed this week that all non-diet sodas be taxed, as part of his $121 million budget plan for 2009. Patterson's so called "obesity tax" would levy a 15 percent tax on carbonated drinks like Coca-Cola.The tax on soft drinks would bring in an estimated $404 million annually, and would not include diet drinks, milk, juice or bottled water. It would, however, apply to any beverage containing less than 70 percent fruit juice. So think lemonade, sweetened iced tea, and even some drinks marketed as juice.
The proposal is part of Patterson's efforts to close $15 billion deficit expected this year and next, and supposedly the funds collected from the tax would be applied to health-care initiatives. Much like the cigarette tax, the levy is intended to discourage people from indulging in bad habits that cause health problems. Obesity is liked to chronic conditions like diabetes and heart disease.
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Being a native New Yorker, I understand Patterson's frustration. Year after year the budget deficit climbs higher, and year after year the state legislature delays approving the annual package because of political infighting, causing financial hardship for every institution that receives state funds -- institutions like schools.
Which, by the way, sometimes sell sodas as a way to offset budget issues. File that one under "things that make you go hmmmm."
What do you think? Should sugary drinks be taxed, or is this just another step toward a "nanny state?"
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
Karen 12-17-2008 @ 4:24PM
That isn't all he proposed to tax. I think movies, electronic downloads, etc. were all in that proposal as well.
Bad move!
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SKL 12-17-2008 @ 4:12PM
I'd take a more logical approach if I were designing the world:
1) Is the government subsidizing pop purchases in the first place? Make it illegal for people to use any government funds (food stamps, welfare, school funds, etc.) for soda and other non-nutritional eats and drinks. And reduce transfer payments / subsidy checks.
2) Make people pay for their own health care or health insurance. No more free clinics, free emergency rooms, free medicaid, etc. for people who make unhealthy choices when they can't pay the consequences.
A "fat tax" on sugary pop is idiotic because (a) there are plenty of skinny, healthy people who drink sugary pop; (b) there are plenty of other things that can make you even fatter, which aren't taxed (100% fruit juice isn't much healthier than Pepsi); diet pop creates health problems and is linked to obesity; and this would be a "regressive" tax since the people paying it would be disproportionately those with less income.
People are stupid.
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Di 12-18-2008 @ 8:59PM
I agree about the free healthcare. I work in a pharmacy and see people all the time come in on medicaid with more jewelry than Tiffanys. One even came in for "free meds" and had a mercedes application faxed to them. They can get up to 3 months medication for less than $3.00. I love it when they want a few months because they are going on vacation and will be out of the country!!!! Cut all this out and then see if we are in debt!
Gary Middleton 12-18-2008 @ 10:42PM
sounds like descrimination to me.
rebecca Biernesser 12-17-2008 @ 5:19PM
Can we say idiots? i got a better idea, how about they cut their trips, personal drivers, parties, and other numerous items that they don't need but spend their taxpayers money on? Even a pay cut would be a better choice.
Course I'm from Alabama, but hey if they do it in one state, others will look at doing it too.
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Jan Bay 12-17-2008 @ 7:51PM
I recently read where one of the characteristics of people who live to be one hundred and beyond was that they did not drink cola. It was not clear as to why this was so; whether it was obesity or some other effect that soft drinks have on the body.
My question is are they going to start adding taxes to fatty foods and salty snacks next? This is an area that needs education not taxation as there is no way to completely eliminate them only to moderate. Cigarettes and alcohol are another issue. They are no good to anybody.
Jan from http://www.unique-baby-gear-ideas.com/
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teltech54 12-17-2008 @ 9:09PM
The sad thing is if he runs for governor next term he will win because all New Yorkers are idiots. They do not have the gonads to stand up to the government and just keep taking the taxes up the backside. So it serves every one of them right and they deserve what they get if they stay in NY. I think I am going to start my own business. A service that will help a family find a job and a place to live in a more friendly state. I could become a millionaire even if I only charged $100 a family or person.
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teltech54 12-17-2008 @ 9:10PM
Did you know that the government dreams up these taxes so they can get lobbied by the companies that sell them? Then when the lobbyists pay off the government officials to the tune of tens of thousands of dollars the tax is defeated. Nice way to enhance your income.
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ninainindia 12-17-2008 @ 9:22PM
Just because some people go overboard doesn't mean everyone should be punished. There are plenty of healthy people that drink cola.
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LS 12-17-2008 @ 10:40PM
Man, I wish I could balance my household budget the way politicians balance theirs!!
"Gee, I spent too much money this year, and plan to spend MORE than that next year. But I don't have that money. Whatever shall I do? Well, I could cut back on some of this wasteful spending... HAHAHAHAH, no. That would be CRAZY! ... hmmmm ..." (casts about office, rustles papers, has an interlude with secretary)
"I know!!! I'll go to my neighbor's house and demand that he give me the money that he put away in savings!!! He's not going to need it any time soon, and I can certainly spend it better than he can!! That's IT!!! Problem solved! SECRETARY!!! Call the airline and book us another vacation! We're taking a celebratory trip to Tahiti, and we're charging it to Neighbor Bill!"
morons.
And yet, we keep voting them in. So who are the REAL morons, here?
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stingerita 12-18-2008 @ 8:43PM
Loved your comments; however, I didn't vote for any of the current losers because I do my research. Unfortunately, many people watch CNN (Communist News Network) and listen to the media gods and are uninformed about real issues. Keep up the good work!
Mihir 12-18-2008 @ 9:58AM
"Patterson's so called "obesity tax" would levy a 15 percent tax on carbonated drinks like Coca-Cola"
i call BS! the tax is not intended to curb obesity. the tax is only, and i repeat ONLY, intended to bring in more revenue. period.
i absolutley loathe when politicians infer that a tax is meant to put a curb on bad habits.
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undrgrndgirl 12-18-2008 @ 8:12PM
there are other "vice" taxes on alcohol and cigarettes, so why not on soda...i'm all for it !!!
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stingerita 12-18-2008 @ 8:29PM
Have we forgotten that we (United States) broke away from England due to taxes...the tea tax broke the camel's back. Now, we have the same *&$# going on. Government wants to get involved with anything that "THEY" can profit from. It's all about the senators and congressmen who represent us. They are CRAP! And mostly democrat! We need to keep crying out for term limits. Then we don't have the same people in there for 24 years at a time. (Sitting there and getting rich off the "Common people.")
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Dick 12-18-2008 @ 8:39PM
How about a politician tax ?? Put 75 cents of EVERY dollar collected for a campaign into school funding....and a $50,000 a year tax on anybody that uses a chaufeur...and a speaking fee charged TO a politician every time he/she gets in front of a microphone... and all speeches for money must involve donating 90% of the proceeds to food kitchens. This will not raise any actual money for any of these causes, but we won't have to listen to their crap any more either!
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jim 12-19-2008 @ 1:01AM
Nice ideas
HeatherLyne 12-18-2008 @ 8:54PM
Something that helps the state AND makes us little healthier??
So you are all against this why? Oh, so you don't have to give up your 15 cents that will help keep your state out of a defecit. How stingy can you people get??
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SKL 12-18-2008 @ 9:54PM
I'm sure most of the people commenting here won't be subject to the tax. Myself, not only do I not live in NY, but I never buy soda, or any other thing you have to pay a tax to eat/drink/smoke (other than restaurant food).
This isn't about me being stingy, it's about the stupidity of the tax system - it punishes the wrong people for the wrong things in the wrong way to benefit the wrong interests.
Susan 12-18-2008 @ 8:44PM
Well, I know I did two things right--switched from Coke Classic to Coke Zero (really couldn;t tell the difference) and bought a house in Georgia. ,,l,, Paterson!!
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FOXYLYNX 12-18-2008 @ 8:48PM
I LIVE IN UPSTATE NY AND I CAN'T WAIT TO GET THE HELL OUT OF THIS STATE! PROPERTY TAXES ARE SKY HIGH ALONG WITH EVERYTHING ELSE. WE ARE TAXED TO DEATH! THEN THEY WONDER WHY PEOPLE ARE LEAVING. LIBERAL WELFARE STATES ARE GOING TO DROWN IN THEIR OWN DEBT, BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN I HAVE TO STAY HERE AND TAKE IT. I LIKE PATTERSON, HE INHERITED A VERY BAD SITUATION.
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