Lawmakers Consider Tax On Fast Food

[Ptarmigan]

Lawmakers Consider Tax On Fast Food
'Sin' Tax Could Help Fund Struggling Hospitals
WCBS
Apr 30, 2008 6:39 pm US/Eastern

WINDSOR, N.J. (CBS) ― The sputtering economy has caused an increase in prices of many staples including gasoline, rice, ice cream, even beer. Now some lawmakers in New Jersey are considering taking food taxes a step further and install a proverbial "sin" tax on fast food.

Yes, the idea of marking up your favorite fast food burger or pack of fries is actually being tossed around, and it's not settling well with many residents.

"They're taxing everything. Now you're gonna tax fast food? That's crazy," said Newark resident Miriam Robertson.

Full Article

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Oh great. More tax from a DemocRATic state of New Jersey.

[Chris_]

They already tax food here...fast, slow...does not matter.  All drugs are also taxed...prescription and OTC.   

[Miss Mia]

Lawmakers Consider Tax On Fast Food
'Sin' Tax Could Help Fund Struggling Hospitals
WCBS
Apr 30, 2008 6:39 pm US/Eastern

WINDSOR, N.J. (CBS) ― The sputtering economy has caused an increase in prices of many staples including gasoline, rice, ice cream, even beer. Now some lawmakers in New Jersey are considering taking food taxes a step further and install a proverbial "sin" tax on fast food.

Yes, the idea of marking up your favorite fast food burger or pack of fries is actually being tossed around, and it's not settling well with many residents.

"They're taxing everything. Now you're gonna tax fast food? That's crazy," said Newark resident Miriam Robertson.

Full Article

===========================================

Oh great. More tax from a DemocRATic state of New Jersey.

I'm sure there's a thread on DU about how this is really a tax on the low income/minorities. 

Why don't they just raise taxes on cigs again, cause that always seems to work.   

[Lord Undies]

Fast food, or rather prepared food, is already subject to sales tax.  I don't think a tax added at the POS for this specific area of commerce will pass a court challenge.  The law would have to tax the products at the manufacturing or distribution level like cigarettes, liquor, and other "sins".   

[Miss Mia]

Fast food, or rather prepared food, is already subject to sales tax.  I don't think a tax added at the POS for this specific area of commerce will pass a court challenge.  The law would have to tax the products at the manufacturing or distribution level like cigarettes, liquor, and other "sins".   

Isn't that a state by state thingy?  I know that's how it's done here. 

[djones520]

I can't understand the reasoning behind this thinking...

Prices are rising on commodities...  so we're going to help it out by making the prices go up even higher...

How does that work???

[rich_t]

Fast food, or rather prepared food, is already subject to sales tax.  I don't think a tax added at the POS for this specific area of commerce will pass a court challenge.  The law would have to tax the products at the manufacturing or distribution level like cigarettes, liquor, and other "sins".   

Ohio recently passed (about a year ago) 75 cent increase per pack on cigarettes.  I think it applied at the retail level.

[Lord Undies]

Fast food, or rather prepared food, is already subject to sales tax.  I don't think a tax added at the POS for this specific area of commerce will pass a court challenge.  The law would have to tax the products at the manufacturing or distribution level like cigarettes, liquor, and other "sins".   

Isn't that a state by state thingy?  I know that's how it's done here. 

Every state I know of has the "sin tax" paid at least at the wholesale level and that tax is part of the shelf price at the retail level.  Then the usual sales tax is added at the POS, which is in part taxing the tax already paid.  

To add a special tax at the register would be singling out one area of commerce, prepare foods, which would be unequal treatment.  How would that work when you get some fried okra along with your roasted chicken at the Wal-Mart deli?

No doubt the lawmakers are smart enough to know it won't fly, and even if it would, they would be missing out on the sales tax the extra tax in the shelf price would generate.

[Lord Undies]

Fast food, or rather prepared food, is already subject to sales tax.  I don't think a tax added at the POS for this specific area of commerce will pass a court challenge.  The law would have to tax the products at the manufacturing or distribution level like cigarettes, liquor, and other "sins".   

Ohio recently passed (about a year ago) 75 cent increase per pack on cigarettes.  I think it applied at the retail level.

I don't think so.  That is what the tax stamp on top is all about.  Besides, don't forget the extra benefit of charging sales tax on the tax if it is already included in the POS price.

[rich_t]

I can't understand the reasoning behind this thinking...

Prices are rising on commodities...  so we're going to help it out by making the prices go up even higher...

How does that work???

Well dj...  Stupid is as stupid does.

Taxes on fast food (sometimes called referred to as a "fat tax" ) is not a new idea.  The idea is that fast food is bad for you and causes obesity, so therefore should be taxed to help offset the extra medical care that fat people might need due to their obesity.

[rich_t]

Fast food, or rather prepared food, is already subject to sales tax.  I don't think a tax added at the POS for this specific area of commerce will pass a court challenge.  The law would have to tax the products at the manufacturing or distribution level like cigarettes, liquor, and other "sins".   

Ohio recently passed (about a year ago) 75 cent increase per pack on cigarettes.  I think it applied at the retail level.

I don't think so.  That is what the tax stamp on top is all about.  Besides, don't forget the extra benefit of charging sales tax on the tax if it is already included in the POS price.

You may be correct...  I quit smoking about 9 months ago so I am no longer impacted by that particular tax.