Griffo: Sugared beverage tax is ridiculous
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WKTV News
Story Created:
Mar 15, 2010 at 11:31 AM EST
Story Updated:
Mar 15, 2010 at 4:49 PM EST
UTICA, N.Y. (WKTV) - Part of Governor David Paterson's proposed New York State Budget includes a tax on sugared beverages - a tax that State Senator Joe Griffo (R) says would equal out to a cost of one cent per ounce.
Griffo says many people don't realize how many beverages, besides soda, would be taxed if the Governor's proposal goes through. At Chanatry's Supermarket in Utica on Monday, Griffo said the Governor tried this tax before, only to find it fighting against strong opposition.
Now that the proposal has returned, Griffo hopes people will once again make their voices heard.
"This is wrong and we have to stop this," Senator Griffo said. "I hope people will join in the fight to put this thing to bed."
Griffo said that the way the law is proposed, stores would pay the tax to the wholesale distributor, but then have to pass that cost down to the consumer.
"At a time when the state is facing an over $9 billion deficit, this proposal would help prevent deeper cuts to health care services, encourage healthier beverage choices, and improve health outcomes for millions of New Yorkers," said Matt Anderson, a spokesperson for the New York State Division of the Budget. "Moreover, any individual who is opposed to this initiative has a responsibility to offer real alternative solutions to not only replace the expected revenue, but also address New York's serious obesity epidemic. Obesity has been linked with numerous life-threatening health problems, including diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol, and costs our State's health care system more than $7.6 billion each year. It is a problem that New York and its leaders cannot continue to ignore."
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