beer socialists

[chinook]

oregon democrats socialists are proposing a hefty (1900 % increase) beer tax.

With cuts looming in social services and not enough money for health care, lawmakers in Salem are eyeing the frosty winter ale in Keith McCowan's pint as a possible revenue godsend.

The state tax on beer is less than a penny a glass. It's among the lowest in the country, untouched in more than three decades and guarded by powerful interest groups.

McCowan, a 33-year-old city stormwater employee enjoying a Widmer Brothers Brrr at a brewpub last week, wants to keep it that way.

"I don't think it's fair they're singling out people who drink beer or smoke or chew, and letting everybody else skate by," he says.

"Why are they making us pay extra .¤.¤. just because we like beer, but they're not doing it with people who buy diapers and groceries? Put it on vegetables, man."

Never before, it seems, has the climate been so ripe to raise taxes on sin. Democrats command supermajorities in both chambers, which means they can increase taxes without Republican votes.

Socialist Gov. Ted Kulongoski is pushing higher cigarette taxes for health care this session. And a handful of Democrats would like to fill a hole in drug and alcohol addiction services with a beer tax increase.

Kurt Widmer, one of the brothers behind Widmer Brothers Brewing, says the actual tax paid by drinkers will be much higher than legislators claim, after middlemen slice their share.

"The lie of the 15 cents is that a pint (actually) goes from $4 to $5.50," he says.

"To me it's a mystery why you would damage an industry that's proven to create family wage jobs."

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[Tarheel]

The Democrats socialists won't be satisfied until they are taxing the very air we breathe.

They came after adult tobacco products and nobody listened or cared...maybe when they come after the beer, liquor, wine, and internet porn folk will take notice.