October 23, 2009
Basically No New Taxes
by Justin Higginbottom
Reported yesterday:
Just four days after telling CBS 2 HD he will not raise taxes on cash strapped New Yorkers, Gov. David Paterson wants lawmakers to consider imposing his "fat tax" on soda and sugary drinks next year.
..."No new taxes this year. No new taxes next year," Paterson said.
Gov. Paterson might have the same definition of new taxes as Obama.
"I promise I will put it back in my budget address and give the Legislature another chance to do it. You can't keep voting down ways to create revenue and then saying you don't want to make cuts," Paterson said.
New Yorkers should remember that this is the only real benefit of soda taxes—more government revenue. If Paterson or others switch their arguments to health concerns when proposing these taxes, they should be greeted with suspicion.
More on Paterson's past efforts at soda taxes here.
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