According the AP, President Barack Obama and Congressional Democrats wants to tax your income, your alcohol consumption, soda and sugary drink consumption as well as establish a national sales tax, entitled the “value-added tax.”
“House Democrats have lots of potential targets for higher taxes as they aim to expand health care coverage to reach the roughly 50 million that experts say are uninsured.
[…]
“[U]nder consideration are higher alcohol taxes, increases to the Medicare payroll tax and a value-added tax, a sort of national sales tax, of up to 1.5 percent or more.
[…]
“The tax options include:
• Increasing the price of soda and other sugary drinks by 10 cents a can.
• Applying a potential 2 percent income tax increase to single taxpayers earning more than $200,000 a year and households earning more than $250,000.
• A new employer payroll tax could target 3 percent of employers' health care expenditures.
• Taxing employer-provided health insurance benefits above certain levels — a less likely option but one that still is in the running.”
[…]
“[U]nder consideration are higher alcohol taxes, increases to the Medicare payroll tax and a value-added tax, a sort of national sales tax, of up to 1.5 percent or more.
[…]
“The tax options include:
• Increasing the price of soda and other sugary drinks by 10 cents a can.
• Applying a potential 2 percent income tax increase to single taxpayers earning more than $200,000 a year and households earning more than $250,000.
• A new employer payroll tax could target 3 percent of employers' health care expenditures.
• Taxing employer-provided health insurance benefits above certain levels — a less likely option but one that still is in the running.”
Meanwhile, back here in Ohio, Governor Ted Strickland speaks adamantly against a tax increase, saying repeatedly that it would be “counterproductive” in this economy.
“When asked whether that could include a tax increase, the governor replied, ‘A tax hike under these [economic] circumstances would be, in my judgment, counterproductive.’” [Columbus Dispatch, 11/12/08]
“Asked whether it was time to consider a tax increase, Strickland responded, ‘No. Because I think a tax hike, under these circumstances, could be counterproductive. And, so, I have maintained and continue to maintain that position.’” [Daily Record (Wooster), 12/2/08]
“Gov. Ted Strickland, a Democrat, said he did not put any tax increases into his budget proposal because they would make the economic recession worse. He did, however, put dozens of new fees and fee increases into the plan.” [Associated Press, 2/25/09]
“‘The governor does not believe a tax increase would be productive at a time that so many Ohioans are struggling,’ said Strickland spokeswoman Amanda Wurst.” [Associated Press, 2/25/09]
“Asked whether it was time to consider a tax increase, Strickland responded, ‘No. Because I think a tax hike, under these circumstances, could be counterproductive. And, so, I have maintained and continue to maintain that position.’” [Daily Record (Wooster), 12/2/08]
“Gov. Ted Strickland, a Democrat, said he did not put any tax increases into his budget proposal because they would make the economic recession worse. He did, however, put dozens of new fees and fee increases into the plan.” [Associated Press, 2/25/09]
“‘The governor does not believe a tax increase would be productive at a time that so many Ohioans are struggling,’ said Strickland spokeswoman Amanda Wurst.” [Associated Press, 2/25/09]
