Beer tax on tap for health care?

[Old Coot]

By RICARDO ALONSO-ZALDIVAR, Associated Press Writer Ricardo Alonso-zaldivar, Associated Press Writer – 1 hr 16 mins ago

WASHINGTON – Joe Six-Pack may have to hand over nearly $2 more for a case of beer to help provide health insurance for all.

Details of the proposed beer tax are described in a Senate Finance Committee document distributed to lawmakers before a closed-door meeting Wednesday. Senators are focusing on how to pay for expanding health insurance for an estimated 50 million uninsured Americans, a cost that could range to some $1.5 trillion over 10 years.

You can't raise that from beer money alone.

Lawmakers are looking at an extensive list of spending cuts and tax increases, including a new levy on the value of job-based health insurance. The latter proposal seems to be gaining ground. It could lead to higher income taxes for some people with particularly generous job-based health care.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090520/ap_on_go_co/us_health_overhaul_taxes;_ylt=AvjS_cN2l5gsfYcyuBy89rxI2ocA

[Oregone]

1. How about taxing private health insurance companies $2 bucks on each denied claim

Or more

:)

From my cold dead hand!

[NightWatcher]

2. stop with the Sin Taxes already

and btw

Leave My BEER Alone

[DJ13]

3. SCHIP from cig taxes was fine with most people, wasnt it?

I think at the time a lot of people were warning they wouldnt stop there, looks like they were right.

[billac]

4. Can't we have just one tax that isn't a regressive one?

Increased fees for everything from car registration to passport fees. Where will it end?

[DJ13]

7. Im with you

Taxing consumption is just a way for our cowardly politicians not to have to raise taxes on the wealthy.

Especially when the products being taxed are used disproportionately by the middle and lower classes.

[provis99]

5. beer is healthy and nutritious

If we really want to tax noxious substances that are bad for our health, how about we tax Republican millionaires?

[trotsky]

6. I drink a fair amount of beer.

And I'd be more than happy to kick over another $2 per case (even though most of the stuff I get doesn't come in packs that big) if it meant I could get guaranteed health care.

[ZombieHorde]

8. Yea! More taxes on the poor, like the insane increase on rolling tobacco tax.

I don't think my buddy who smokes rollies will ever vote Democrat again. He is fucking pissed and I can't defend it.

[trotsky]

11. Yeah but if this replaces the ridiculous premiums we pay for employer plans...

isn't that a net gain?

[ZombieHorde]

12. No, like many people, he does not have any insurance.

Many poor people smoke rollies and have no insurance. When I smoked, I often smoked rollies because they were so much cheaper than pre-rolled cigarettes. The tax on rollies increased by over 2,000%. 2,000%+ tax increase on the poor does win them over.

[sunwyn]

9. I drink only homebrew and I quit smoking ryo 2 weeks before the taxes took effect...

I wonder what tax will be next. I don't think I can take much more. I have been out of work since July 08 due to a pre-existing health problem (lyme) and have not seen a doc in ages. No health care for or others like me at this rate. Unbelievable

[Celebration]

10. Better yet--legalize pot

And tax it to pay for health care for all.

[Shagbark Hickory]

13. So what. Who cares

What's the big deal about a little tax on soda or beer or cigarettes?

I would be in favor of a little tax on EVERYTHING if it paid for universal true non-profit national healthcare.