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December 19, 2007
And a tax credit for being a vegan
by Peter Pitts
What's worse than a bad idea? How about a bad idea without any details.
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -- Mayor Gavin Newsom wants large grocery stores to help fight obesity by paying fees on sodas and other beverages they sell in San Francisco.
Newsom has asked his staff to prepare a law that would charge retail chains for stocking Coke, Pepsi and other drinks sweetened with high fructose corn syrup.
Mayoral spokesman Nathan Ballard says the size of the fee and how it would be assessed still have to be worked out.
He says there's a direct link between sweet beverages and obesity, which puts added pressure on San Francisco's health care system.
If the bill is approved by the Board of Supervisors, money generated from the fee would go toward a city program that emphasizes exercise, diet and other preventative health measures.
A direct link to obesity? The only direct link is the one between calories in and calories out. That being the case, perhaps the Mayor should also consider a "sit on your tuchus tax" on the sale of flat screen televisions.
The idea to tax soda is well, flat.
Posted by peterpitts at December 19, 2007 10:11 AM
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