Another middle class tax increase-spare the richies microbrews

[sequioa]

OLYMPIA — The state House has approved a multimillion-dollar tax package that increases the cost of candy, soda, and beer and also eliminates some tax exemp

Read more: http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2010/apr/10/state-house-narrowly-oks-tax-increase-package/#ixzz0knG5UIGz

Microbrews are spared, taxes will go up on Joe Sixpack and Johnny's candy bars.

People are way too fat and drunk these days anyway.

The beer tax, along with the microbrew exemption, drew the largest complaints from opponents on the House floor.

“If you’re a blue-collar worker in a mill, who goes out after work and wants to have a PBR or Coors Light, we’re going to tax you. But if you live in downtown Seattle and you want to go to your boutique bar and have some microbrew, you’re exempt,” Ericksen said. “Wow. Stick it to the working man, give the highfalutin, big-paid guy in Seattle a tax break on the beer they drink. That’s not fair.”

Read more: http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2010/apr/10/state-house-narrowly-oks-tax-increase-package/#ixzz0knGfBZCb

Candy and gum also would be subject to the state’s 6.5 percent sales tax, with a temporary tax credit tied to jobs for candy manufacturers with employees in the state.

Read more: http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2010/apr/10/state-house-narrowly-oks-tax-increase-package/#ixzz0knGncNHI

[pepperbear]

1. other than the fact that there is no blue collar worker at the mill because that job got

outsourced long ago, I feel their pain.

[KharmaTrain]

2. Those At The Microbrewery Are Getting Hit By Other Taxes...

If Seattle has followed suit with many other major tourist destinations, taxes on restaurants and other entertainment venues have gone up over the past couple years to try to stop the bleeding in their budgets. As one who doesn't drink beer and has no dog in this hunt, I suspect those microbreweries are getting nailed by other taxes that Joe Sixpack isn't paying.

[surrealAmerican]

3. Exempting the microbrews makes sense to me.

Those are made locally, which means jobs in state. The state has an valid interest in supporting local businesses.

[paulsby]

4. as a WA state resident, this surprises me NOT AT ALL

and i dont care if some people think "elitism" is a term used only by the rightwing

it isn't

and this is CLASSIC nannystate elitism

from the state that allows casinos and lottery tickets everywhere you look (including poor neighborhoods where they feel the need to so nannyish) but makes online poker s C FELONY!!!