Paterson's "Obesity Tax" Would Raise Price of Pop

As part of his desperate effort to close an estimated $15 billion budget deficit this year and next, Governor Paterson is proposing, among other things, a tax on roughly 15% of non-diet soft drinks, the Daily News reports. On Tuesday Paterson will officially announce his $121 billion budget, which emphasizes broad cuts in education and Medicaid. "I expect it to be an unmitigated disaster for health care institutions in New York," Kenneth Raske, president of the Greater New York Hospital Association, tells the Times. The obesity tax would raise some $404 million a year, but the state shouldn't expect any revenue boost from teens like Amaury Garcia, 16, who works at a flower shop in Penn Station. She tells the News the tax would simply drive her to abstinence: "I don't like to buy Diet Coke. I'll just not buy any sodas if it goes up."

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By John Del Signore in Food on December 15, 2008 9:45 AM

Comments [rss]

Buck Owens

Look at the obese children! Makes me wonder if their parents use food stamps foot the McDonald's bill.

nycnewsjunkie

POP?!?!?!?

Are you kidding me? I just lost a lot of respect for this site.

Clarice City

I grew up calling it 'tonic'. Massachusetts. Wicked cool.

Jumphigh83

Time to leave Gotham and seek out a freemans state.

Jumphigh83

Good thing we have Big Brother watching out for us. We certainly wouldn't know what is good for us. This is BEYOND a disgrace. Welcome to America...check your rights at the boarder.

benitofool

Soda?!? Go back to south eastern Missouri, you bunch of posers.

No real New Yorker reads a blog about New York

p.s. just tax people without a genetic disorder who have a BMI > 30, why dontcha. or people with stinky feet.

kromelizard

How the fuck can this place call itself the Gothamist and still have the gall to call it pop? Go the fuck back to Ohio!

us jersey folk

So healthy adults like myself who are within the CDCs guidelines have the choice between paying extra for Coke in moderation or paying less for the unhealthier Diet Coke which is loaded with the carcinogenic aspartame. Oooh, and then the taxes used from the Coke can pay for the healthcare of the 300 lb woman who orders the Big Mac and Diet Coke.

NannyState

Tax the fatties for clogging up our sewers and making us pay for 'digester eggs'.

MaiaW

I agree with you, 28 (29, your argument might make sense if this blog weren't ABOUT NEW YORK) but guys, the editors clearly just wanted to be able to say "Price of Pop" in the headline. It's a lot catchier than "Price of Soda!"

r1b2

All: I've lived in NY almost all my life. I once dated a gal from Utica NY who said "pop." I would tease her by saying it, and it kind of stuck. I say it. My kids tease me because I say it, but I do. Why does this bother you all so horribly? I say y'all because it often fits. I say reckon. I don't know why. How come it bothers you so much if folks speak differently than you do. I don't mean Sarah Palin different; she's an idiot. But there are regional variations. Deal with it. Surely you have something else going on in your lives.

Shinobi Shaw

Oh for criss sake, New York is a multi-cultural city with people from all over the world (including other states). If someone calls Soda 'pop' because that's what they know it as, it's fine. More diversity.

People from the Midwest and the south come here, GET OVER IT.

Second, if you're going to drink soda, I suggest do it once in a while and drink REGULAR. Diet soda has the toxic chemical known as ASPARTAME.

that girl

Thank god for #29....preach!

ides_of_march

What hypocricy.

Why then does the same government give away food stamps that can be used to purchase soda, sugary cereals and other fat-inducing junk food?

If the government wants to stop obesity how about limiting food stamps to the healthy staples like milk, rice, beans and fresh produce?

Brooklynbobby

First they taxed the smokers to death and now they're going after sweet-eaters. It's fucking ridiculous!!! My mother died years ago and I don't need a replacement!!!

Bottomless Chips

This country's headed down the wrong path. It's sad that taxes like these even have a whimper of support.

Steven

Why not tax the companies who put out garbage for food and drinks? Make them produce more healthy food for a cheaper price.

I really was liking Paterson after he took office, but lately he is no different from any other politician out there.

All NYS knows how to do is TAX,TAX,TAX. Let's just tax everything. Case in point the amazon tax.

safetytowhere

EVERYBODY LOOK AT ME. I AM A REAL NEW YORKER BECAUSE I SAY "SODA" INSTEAD OF "POP." BLAH BLAH THE MIDWEST SUCKS. BLAH BLAH. GO HOME. I AM A REAL NEW YORKER.