Colorado Governor Bill Ritter (D) made headlines all over the country this week when signed a bill adding sales tax to candy and soda. The bill was one of nine bills meant to address the state’s $1.5 billion budget shortfall.
The bill, as in other states like Pennsylvania, is being touted as an elimination of an existing exemption (the official name is HB 1191, Eliminate Candy and Soda Sales Tax Exemption) rather than a sales tax increase. Simply semantics, Colorado. Your taxes are going up.
Ritter was quick to offer that there were not many alternatives, saying, “Signing these bills was not something I wanted to do, but it was something that was necessary in order to keep the budget balanced and to continue positioning Colorado for a strong and healthy recovery.”
Republicans, however, signaled their opposition, claiming that additional taxes would only worsen the recession.
So, same as almost everywhere else, no?
What is notable about Colorado is that it is opting to tax the very items that many other states (and indeed, the federal government) have toyed with taxing – or simply taxing more – in an effort to raise revenue keep us healthy. But Colorado didn’t sugar coat it (ok, bad pun). They stuck it in the budget as an income generator, not disguised as some kind of tax policy initiative. It’s not a “fat tax” – it’s a sales tax. Hmm. Interesting concept.
Colorado’s success in getting the measure through – despite noise from the gallery – may inspire other states to take up similar measures. Stay tuned.
Maybe this is a beginning of “right”thinking again. Pop and candy are a luxury item,not a food staple. Look at pictures of the US public in the pre 80’s vrs now. Large people , over eating and indulging with nearly 1/2 gal drink containers in hand all day long.
Along these line,s nothing is more disgusting to me to follow a young overweight person in line at the grocery store buying junk food with cash,then whipping out the welfare food stamp card and buying milk and bread. Where does it say I have to subsidise some ones garbage intake with my tax provided monies! Junk food is not a nessitity. If you have to have it, you should pay “with your own money” not mine. These people don’t deserve assistance. “Right Thinking!”
Ugh! Taxes and more taxes. Here we go. State governments are starting to act more like airlines these days – looking for anything they can to squeeze extra revenue out of. I think this is just a sign of things to come.