This is so ridiculous. I don't even remember the last time I had a soda. I have probably had about 10 sodas in the last twenty years, and only when there was nothing else to drink. They're disgustingly sweet, and totally devoid of nutrition. Why in the world are they equated with family values in all these objections? People, you want to know why your kid is hyperactive? You're giving him coke to drink, tons of sugar. It doesn't take a rocket scientist. And drinking filtered tap water or using frozen juice concentrate is so much cheaper! Jeez, just think how much you'd be saving if you weren't addicted to sugary drinks!

My mind is boggled by the objections raised.

the fact that the tax that was all about the HEALTH of our children was going to apply to DIET soda too, shows how dishonest the govt is.

If the govt needs money, either cut spending or get the people with the means to pay it to pony - hint its not the people buying soda.

from 1990 to 2005, CEOs' pay increased almost 300% (adjusted for inflation), while production workers gained a scant 4.3%. The purchasing power of the federal minimum wage actually declined by 9.3%, when inflation is taken into account.

http://sociology.ucsc.edu/whorulesamerica/power/wealth.html

It doesn't apply to diet sodas.

http://blog.timesunion.com/capitol/archives/27008/video-daines-on-the-latest-soda-tax-proposal/

I agree with you that politicians are generally cowards about taxing the wealthy, but the 1-cent/can tax on sodas is really quite reasonable. Nobody is compelled to buy sodas and sugary beverages, just as nobody is required to buy alcohol/tobacco, which have much higher taxes.

This is not about our right to choose sugary drinks - its about the ever so willingness to tax every aspect of working families lives while these buffoons in Albany can't think of enough ways to spend our tax dollars on programs after programs....We pay enough taxes thankyou very much!!!

You're only "adding to their burden" if you believe people have no choice but to buy sugary drinks. Gimme a break.

It amazes me that people are so ready to jump on the next tax bandwagon to "raise money" for our government that has overpaid representatives making more and more laws and taxes to fund their McMansions and Mercedes. If every state worker took a pay cut, they would be able to meet this budget shortfall without putting the burden on the rest of us. Instead, they'll all continue to rake down ridiculous sums of money from salaries, not to mention the money they take from lobbyists and others who donate to their campaigns and then when they retire, their pensions will put the rest of ours to shame.

so agree!

I'm all in favor in people eating healthy, but another tax to just line the politicians? No thank you.

Remember the more money our government gets/sees the more they love to do more wasteful spending and more corruption.

It's time for our government to do more with less and use they money they have now wisely. It's easy to say just add another tax to the public because our politics don't want to use their brain and instead use their pe*ns (male politicians ones at least)

Blah! Kill the corn subsidy.

Need more money to misappropriate!

F-K THE LEGISLATURE! Vote out every one of them. I know I'm going to be working hard to give the boot to my local representative. They won't support a complete no-brainer source of revenue like this, yet try to block every single cut the Governor proposes?

this really is a no-brainer, it's a win-win tax any way you look at it.

The government will always spend any money you give it, and more. Giving them more money is no the answer.