Friday, October 11, 2019

Tax Mad DC: Considers 1.5C-Per-Ounce Soda Excise Tax One Week After Implementing 2% Soft Drink Sales Tax




The Tax Man
By George Harrison for The Beatles

One, two, three, four, one, two
Let me tell you how it will be
There's one for you, nineteen for me
'Cause I'm the taxman, yeah, I'm the taxman
Should five per cent appear too small
Be thankful I don't take it all
'Cause I'm the taxman, yeah, I'm the taxman
If you drive a car, I'll tax the street
If you try to sit, I'll tax your seat
If you get too cold, I'll tax the heat
If you take a walk, I'll tax your feet
'Cause I'm the taxman, yeah, I'm the taxman
If you don't want to pay some more(Ah ah, Mr. Heath)
'Cause I'm the taxman, yeah, I'm the taxman
Now my advice for those who die (taxman!)
Declare the pennies on your eyes (taxman!)
'Cause I'm the taxman, yeah, I'm the taxman
And you're working for no one but me (taxman!)

The government is always trying to grab more money from its citizens. The Beatles understood this.

They would have understood the D.C Council game.

Just a week after the D.C. Council put an additional 2% sales tax on soft drinks, it is considering a substitute plan to place a 1.5 cent-per-ounce excise tax on soda and other sweetened beverages, The Washington Post reported. The proposal, introduced Oct. 8, has support from eight of the 13 council members, according to the Washington City Paper.

It affects soda and any sugary drinks such as Gatorade, sweetened ice coffee and orange juice with added sugar, The Post said. However, the tax would not be levied on diet soda or other beverages containing artificial sweeteners, beverages with milk as the main ingredient, alcohol and all-natural juices. 

The bill introduced Monday would add about $1 to the price of a 2-liter bottle of soda. The population of Washington DC is 633,00. It is estimated bill would raise $21 million in annual revenue.

-RW

2 comments:

  1. A new market for soda pop smugglers. Hmmm, could this be a stealthy free market scheme??
    BTW Great song! George hitting his stride. My favorite Beatle. Good pick, RW.

    ReplyDelete