Disingenous Nonsense
Senate Appropriations and Revenue Chairman Charlie Borders (Carter 33, 2008 rank #11) is speaking in favor of the tax hikes in HB 144, claiming both that the tax increases are 'user fees' and that the 'few cents' increase will not affect commerce.
Of all the arguements one can make about these tax increases, one can not hide the fact that they are tax increases, and one should not pretend that any tax increase will not affect the budgeting choices people make. To argue on the one hand that raising the cigarette tax will affect health by discouraging smoking, then on the other that raising the alcohol tax would not affect purchasing of alcohol, is utter nonsense.
You can't hide from a tax increase by calling it a user fee, and you can't pretend people don't care about tax increases, however meager. I hope the debate becomes more serious.
UPDATE: Now Senator Ernie Harris (Oldham 26, 2008 rank #11) says he 'wishes there could be a sunset on the alcohol tax.' That idea was proposed by Rep. Brinkman in the House and there is no reason it could not have been proposed in the Senate. There is no reason for him to be wishful when he has been elected to act.
