Florida's Legislature is flush with good ideas. Sen. Al Lawson's involves a two-cent-per-roll tax on toilet paper to pay for wastewater treatment and help small towns upgrade their sewer systems.
The Democratic lawmaker's pay-as-you-go bill has been the source of many jokes - bathroom humor, you might say - but he says the issue is a serious one, especially in some of the fast-growing Panhandle coastal counties in his district. "They're experiencing a tremendous boom in growth and they're not able to accommodate the growth," Lawson said. "We've got 17 million people in this state and all of them can contribute to protecting our underground water supply."
In a Republican-dominated Legislature that doesn't like new taxes, the idea is likely to pretty quickly end up in the tank.
Senate President Tom Lee, R-Brandon, said he didn't think it would get too far, but didn't rule it out.
"We'll be getting to the bottom of it real soon," Lee said.
The House is skeptical as well.
"We're not wild about tax increases," said House Speaker Allan Bense, R-Panama City. "But we'll certainly let it go through the system."
If the bill were to pass, the extra two pennies would start being charged in October. Lawson said it could generate $50 million a year.
It would also need approval from Gov. Jeb Bush, who said that if toilet paper is taxed, people might use less of it.
"That's not necessarily a good thing," noted the governor.
And what about consumers? Wouldn't they be squeezed by a tax on the Charmin?
No, says Lawson.
"Two cents is not going to hurt families at all," he said. "This is one thing people don't mind paying for."
http://newsmax.com/scripts/printer_frie ... 0325.shtml
Squeezed by a tax on the Charmin?
Squeezed by a tax on the Charmin?
"If America Was A Tree, The Left Would Root For The Termites...Greg Gutfeld."
-
Pearl Harbor
- Posts: 128
- Joined: Fri Aug 13, 2004 12:00 pm
Squeezed by a tax on the Charmin?
BTS wrote: Florida's Legislature is flush with good ideas. Sen. Al Lawson's involves a two-cent-per-roll tax on toilet paper to pay for wastewater treatment and help small towns upgrade their sewer systems.
The Democratic lawmaker's pay-as-you-go bill has been the source of many jokes - bathroom humor, you might say - but he says the issue is a serious one, especially in some of the fast-growing Panhandle coastal counties in his district. "They're experiencing a tremendous boom in growth and they're not able to accommodate the growth," Lawson said. "We've got 17 million people in this state and all of them can contribute to protecting our underground water supply."
In a Republican-dominated Legislature that doesn't like new taxes, the idea is likely to pretty quickly end up in the tank.
Senate President Tom Lee, R-Brandon, said he didn't think it would get too far, but didn't rule it out.
"We'll be getting to the bottom of it real soon," Lee said.
The House is skeptical as well.
"We're not wild about tax increases," said House Speaker Allan Bense, R-Panama City. "But we'll certainly let it go through the system."
If the bill were to pass, the extra two pennies would start being charged in October. Lawson said it could generate $50 million a year.
It would also need approval from Gov. Jeb Bush, who said that if toilet paper is taxed, people might use less of it.
"That's not necessarily a good thing," noted the governor.
And what about consumers? Wouldn't they be squeezed by a tax on the Charmin?
No, says Lawson.
"Two cents is not going to hurt families at all," he said. "This is one thing people don't mind paying for."
http://newsmax.com/scripts/printer_frie ... 0325.shtml
I hope you Floridians vote this man out. You have plenty of taxroll and property tax money. This is nothing more than an excise tax leading to a VAT tax.
The Democratic lawmaker's pay-as-you-go bill has been the source of many jokes - bathroom humor, you might say - but he says the issue is a serious one, especially in some of the fast-growing Panhandle coastal counties in his district. "They're experiencing a tremendous boom in growth and they're not able to accommodate the growth," Lawson said. "We've got 17 million people in this state and all of them can contribute to protecting our underground water supply."
In a Republican-dominated Legislature that doesn't like new taxes, the idea is likely to pretty quickly end up in the tank.
Senate President Tom Lee, R-Brandon, said he didn't think it would get too far, but didn't rule it out.
"We'll be getting to the bottom of it real soon," Lee said.
The House is skeptical as well.
"We're not wild about tax increases," said House Speaker Allan Bense, R-Panama City. "But we'll certainly let it go through the system."
If the bill were to pass, the extra two pennies would start being charged in October. Lawson said it could generate $50 million a year.
It would also need approval from Gov. Jeb Bush, who said that if toilet paper is taxed, people might use less of it.
"That's not necessarily a good thing," noted the governor.
And what about consumers? Wouldn't they be squeezed by a tax on the Charmin?
No, says Lawson.
"Two cents is not going to hurt families at all," he said. "This is one thing people don't mind paying for."
http://newsmax.com/scripts/printer_frie ... 0325.shtml
I hope you Floridians vote this man out. You have plenty of taxroll and property tax money. This is nothing more than an excise tax leading to a VAT tax.
Squeezed by a tax on the Charmin?
Pearl Harbor wrote: I hope you Floridians vote this man out. You have plenty of taxroll and property tax money. This is nothing more than an excise tax leading to a VAT tax.
Sen. Al Lawson (D. Tallahassee)
Room 210
Senate Office Building
404 South Monroe Street
Tallahassee, FL 32399-1100
lawson.alfred.web@leg.state.fl.us
Sen. Al Lawson (D. Tallahassee)
Room 210
Senate Office Building
404 South Monroe Street
Tallahassee, FL 32399-1100
lawson.alfred.web@leg.state.fl.us
"If America Was A Tree, The Left Would Root For The Termites...Greg Gutfeld."
Squeezed by a tax on the Charmin?
Quoth the Raven: "The Florida Legislature is in session. And not only is no man's life or property safe, something else important is under siege: They want to tax toilet paper."
Yes, Tallahassee is really on a roll.
Senate Bill 2544 would place a
2-cent-per-roll tax on toilet paper. It was filed by Sen. Al Lawson, D-Tallahassee Motto: "I tackle the toughest (t)issues."
No Polk County senator has signed on as a co-sponsor. No companion bill has been filed in the (out)House.
In a tight budget year, a new tax -even on toilet paper -- might be understandable. But from the accounts of economists, the state is awash in salestax revenue generated by spending forced by four hurricanes.
So Lawson can't be just trying to find ways to make ends meet.
Things could be worse. Instead of by the roll, it could be a 2-cent-a-sheet
tax.
With legislators more anxious to eliminate taxes and fees, the bill will likely have little support. It will probably be wiped out by committee action.
While hundreds of items are exempt from the state's 6 percent sales tax, toilet paper isn't among them. Some "necessity-of-life" items are exempt (like unprepared food, for instance), but toilet paper apparently doesn't fall into the necessity class.
At 80 cents a roll, a nickel tax is added. Lawson's bill would increase that by 40 percent.
The Florida Department of Revenue would be given the task of collecting the tax, and merchants would be charged with keeping track of it. The bill gives new meaning to "paperwork."
But it's in the collection-spending area of Lawson's bill is where the rubber hits the road. Or where the toil . . . oh, nevermind.
The bill designates that the money raised -- about $30 million a year -- would be designated for the Wastewater Treatment and & Stormwater Management Revolving Loan Trust Fund. It is used to help small communities build sewer systems.
"It's a funny bill," Lawson, who has no doubt heard every paper-related pun, told the St. Petersburg Times. "But it's serious."
In case Lawson missed a pun, House Speaker Allan Bense said he thought it sounded "like a pretty crappy bill to me."
While the state already charges a sales tax on toilet paper, the 2 cents a roll Lawson seeks would be a fee. A fee is basically a user-tax because it's only paid by those who would choose to use something: in this case, toilet paper.
Clearly, this is a fee because it applies to the end user.
A decades-old anonymous poem about taxes often circulates on the Internet. A few verses:
Tax his land, tax his wage,
Tax his bed in which he lays.
Tax his tractor, tax his mule,
Teach him taxes is the rule.
If he hollers, tax him more,
Tax him until he's good and sore.
Tax his coffin, tax his grave,
Tax the sod in which he lays.
If Lawson's bill passes, I'd offer an addition verse:
He'll really love our latest caper:
We're gonna tax his toilet paper.
Tax his spoons, tax his treasure.
We'll tax his corncobs for good measure.
http://www.theledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/ ... e=printart
Yes, Tallahassee is really on a roll.
Senate Bill 2544 would place a
2-cent-per-roll tax on toilet paper. It was filed by Sen. Al Lawson, D-Tallahassee Motto: "I tackle the toughest (t)issues."
No Polk County senator has signed on as a co-sponsor. No companion bill has been filed in the (out)House.
In a tight budget year, a new tax -even on toilet paper -- might be understandable. But from the accounts of economists, the state is awash in salestax revenue generated by spending forced by four hurricanes.
So Lawson can't be just trying to find ways to make ends meet.
Things could be worse. Instead of by the roll, it could be a 2-cent-a-sheet
tax.
With legislators more anxious to eliminate taxes and fees, the bill will likely have little support. It will probably be wiped out by committee action.
While hundreds of items are exempt from the state's 6 percent sales tax, toilet paper isn't among them. Some "necessity-of-life" items are exempt (like unprepared food, for instance), but toilet paper apparently doesn't fall into the necessity class.
At 80 cents a roll, a nickel tax is added. Lawson's bill would increase that by 40 percent.
The Florida Department of Revenue would be given the task of collecting the tax, and merchants would be charged with keeping track of it. The bill gives new meaning to "paperwork."
But it's in the collection-spending area of Lawson's bill is where the rubber hits the road. Or where the toil . . . oh, nevermind.
The bill designates that the money raised -- about $30 million a year -- would be designated for the Wastewater Treatment and & Stormwater Management Revolving Loan Trust Fund. It is used to help small communities build sewer systems.
"It's a funny bill," Lawson, who has no doubt heard every paper-related pun, told the St. Petersburg Times. "But it's serious."
In case Lawson missed a pun, House Speaker Allan Bense said he thought it sounded "like a pretty crappy bill to me."
While the state already charges a sales tax on toilet paper, the 2 cents a roll Lawson seeks would be a fee. A fee is basically a user-tax because it's only paid by those who would choose to use something: in this case, toilet paper.
Clearly, this is a fee because it applies to the end user.
A decades-old anonymous poem about taxes often circulates on the Internet. A few verses:
Tax his land, tax his wage,
Tax his bed in which he lays.
Tax his tractor, tax his mule,
Teach him taxes is the rule.
If he hollers, tax him more,
Tax him until he's good and sore.
Tax his coffin, tax his grave,
Tax the sod in which he lays.
If Lawson's bill passes, I'd offer an addition verse:
He'll really love our latest caper:
We're gonna tax his toilet paper.
Tax his spoons, tax his treasure.
We'll tax his corncobs for good measure.
http://www.theledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/ ... e=printart
"If America Was A Tree, The Left Would Root For The Termites...Greg Gutfeld."
Squeezed by a tax on the Charmin?
BTS wrote: Florida's Legislature is flush with good ideas. Sen. Al Lawson's involves a two-cent-per-roll tax on toilet paper to pay for wastewater treatment and help small towns upgrade their sewer systems.
The Democratic lawmaker's pay-as-you-go bill has been the source of many jokes - bathroom humor, you might say - but he says the issue is a serious one, especially in some of the fast-growing Panhandle coastal counties in his district. "They're experiencing a tremendous boom in growth and they're not able to accommodate the growth," Lawson said. "We've got 17 million people in this state and all of them can contribute to protecting our underground water supply."
In a Republican-dominated Legislature that doesn't like new taxes, the idea is likely to pretty quickly end up in the tank.
Senate President Tom Lee, R-Brandon, said he didn't think it would get too far, but didn't rule it out.
"We'll be getting to the bottom of it real soon," Lee said.
The House is skeptical as well.
"We're not wild about tax increases," said House Speaker Allan Bense, R-Panama City. "But we'll certainly let it go through the system."
If the bill were to pass, the extra two pennies would start being charged in October. Lawson said it could generate $50 million a year.
It would also need approval from Gov. Jeb Bush, who said that if toilet paper is taxed, people might use less of it.
"That's not necessarily a good thing," noted the governor.
And what about consumers? Wouldn't they be squeezed by a tax on the Charmin?
No, says Lawson.
"Two cents is not going to hurt families at all," he said. "This is one thing people don't mind paying for."
http://newsmax.com/scripts/printer_frie ... 0325.shtml
I think it's one hellava creative way to pay for waste water and sewage treatments, after all, you could use a corn cob or a Sears catalogue if you don't want to pay the tax.
The Democratic lawmaker's pay-as-you-go bill has been the source of many jokes - bathroom humor, you might say - but he says the issue is a serious one, especially in some of the fast-growing Panhandle coastal counties in his district. "They're experiencing a tremendous boom in growth and they're not able to accommodate the growth," Lawson said. "We've got 17 million people in this state and all of them can contribute to protecting our underground water supply."
In a Republican-dominated Legislature that doesn't like new taxes, the idea is likely to pretty quickly end up in the tank.
Senate President Tom Lee, R-Brandon, said he didn't think it would get too far, but didn't rule it out.
"We'll be getting to the bottom of it real soon," Lee said.
The House is skeptical as well.
"We're not wild about tax increases," said House Speaker Allan Bense, R-Panama City. "But we'll certainly let it go through the system."
If the bill were to pass, the extra two pennies would start being charged in October. Lawson said it could generate $50 million a year.
It would also need approval from Gov. Jeb Bush, who said that if toilet paper is taxed, people might use less of it.
"That's not necessarily a good thing," noted the governor.
And what about consumers? Wouldn't they be squeezed by a tax on the Charmin?
No, says Lawson.
"Two cents is not going to hurt families at all," he said. "This is one thing people don't mind paying for."
http://newsmax.com/scripts/printer_frie ... 0325.shtml
I think it's one hellava creative way to pay for waste water and sewage treatments, after all, you could use a corn cob or a Sears catalogue if you don't want to pay the tax.
Squeezed by a tax on the Charmin?
Lon wrote: I think it's one hellava creative way to pay for waste water and sewage treatments, after all, you could use a corn cob or a Sears catalogue if you don't want to pay the tax.
...............
He'll really love our latest caper:
We're gonna tax his toilet paper.
Tax his spoons, tax his treasure.
We'll tax his corncobs for good measure. :yh_money :yh_shame :yh_monkey :yh_chickn
...............
He'll really love our latest caper:
We're gonna tax his toilet paper.
Tax his spoons, tax his treasure.
We'll tax his corncobs for good measure. :yh_money :yh_shame :yh_monkey :yh_chickn
"If America Was A Tree, The Left Would Root For The Termites...Greg Gutfeld."