By Dave Lucas
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wamc/local-wamc-883998.mp3
Albany, NY – In his quest to keep New York solvent, Governor David Paterson wants to tax sugar-sweetened beverages --- which has raised the ire of an anti-tax coalition ... Capital District Bureau Chief Dave Lucas reports.
Governor Paterson called for an 18 percent tax on soft drinks in the past - an idea that infuriated citizens, persuading Paterson to pull the idea back. Nelson Eusebio, Chairman of New Yorkers Against Unfair Taxes, says not only will this extra tax dig into the wallets of hardworking New Yorkers who are already feeling pinched, but it will hurt local businesses and our economy in general, throughout the state. He believes the tax will take away business from local grocers and supermarkets, and force everyone to pinch pennies.
Counting pounds, not pennies is Nancy Huehnergarth, director of the non-profit New York State Healthy Eating and Physical Activity Alliance. She says our health is suffering in great part because Americans consume 46 gallons a year of sugary soft drinks per person, which is equivalent to 40 pounds of sugar yearly. She notes that sugar-sweetened beverages are the food item most strongly linked with higher rates of obesity and diabetes.
Nelson Euserio warns nothing good will come of the tax. He fears it will open the floodgates for substandard soda, imported from places like China where there is no oversight or quality monitoring in place. Nancy Huenergarth says we shouldn't anticipate problems until we actually have them. The newly proposed tax would become effective on September 1st. It would add $1.44 to the price of a typical 12-pack of non-diet Coke or Pepsi cans, nearly ten times the state excise tax on a 12-pack of beer. Citizens who want to fight back can go to nobeveragetax.com and send a message directly to state senators and assembly members.