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an effort to create searchable online databases for government expenditures
a tool to highlight the hypocrisy of tax hikers
Constitutional or statutory requirement to rein in growth of revenues end expenditures
a commitment made by elected officials and candidates for elected office never to raise taxes
Raising the bar for tax increases
Requiring a cool-off period for all bills with a fiscal impact
pork-barrel spending - the broken windows of the budget
Tax Bites - Soda
37.60%
Although most states require soda consumers to pay sales taxes averaging 6 percent nationally, a number of states impose even higher taxes specifically targeted only at soda. One such state, Arkansas, imposes a2 cents per 12 ounce soft drink can.
Several states also have “bottle bills” that impose an extra charge on beverage containers to punish people for littering. Sure, you might get your fee back if you turn in your soda cans, but the costs of maintaining the programs is still heaped onto your cost. California’s program, for example, costs taxpayers over $30 million each year just for oversight.
Beyond the costs of the excise taxes and bottle bills, the true cost of taxation includes the producer’s federal income taxes, state income taxes, federal payroll taxes, unemployment insurance taxes, workmen’s compensation taxes, local property taxes and any local income taxes.
Depending on where you buy your Diet Coke, the government’s share of the cost could runs as high as 37.6 percent, or $.28 for a 75 cent can of soda.
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