Sink the Drink Tax Redux

As many of you are doubtless aware, some legislators in the California State Assembly would like a regressive alcohol tax to become a part of California law. This tax has reared its ugly head in the form of two pieces of legislation, AB 1019 and SB 558. Below is a letter I wrote to the Chair of the Jobs and Economic Development Committee, Manuel Perez, who is a good pro-labor representative in the 80th Assembly District. I am also posting his response to my letter, which is that the bill died in committee. I would ask everyone who cares about this issue to remain vigilant and click on this link or the Sink the Drink Tax banner to stay informed on this issue and learn about what steps can be taken to combat these taxes that would definitely hurt the wine industry in California. I would also like to thank Chuck McIntyre and the West Coast Protective League and all the work they do to protect the wine and glass industry. Below is the response to my letter:

Hello Stephen,I am sure that you are aware by now that the proposed legislation, AB 1019, died in committee yesterday. I stayed off the vote knowing how, if passed, the law would have hurt many businesses, including yours. As the Chair of Jobs and Economic Development, I want you to know that I am working to keep people in their jobs and building policy to support small businesses in California. Thanks for writing. VMPerez, 80th AD

This was my letter:

From: Stephen Talbott To: Perez, Manuel Sent: Wed Apr 22 11:02:43 2009 Subject: AB 1019

Dear Manuel Perez,

As a 28 year employee at the Gallo Glass Company who is feeling the impact of the global recession on everything from rising prices on gas to my 401K being diminished daily, I am very disappointed to learn that the California Legislature is again considering a proposal to raise taxes on alcohol, including wine.My company has already laid off over 40 employees in February, due in part to the reeling economy. These are good union jobs, with pensions and health insurance. This new tax will further burden an industry that is already struggling, as are many companies in California. This tax will potentially cost thousands of more jobs in the state. Excise taxes are regressive and hurt the people who can least afford it.Our state government needs to find more creative ways to balance the budget, and stop burdening consumers and damaging companies which are already hurting from a painful recession.
Please oppose AB 1019 and SB 558 because consumers like me are already paying enough and we cannot afford to lose any more jobs.

Sincerely,

Stephen Talbott

GMP Local Union #17 AFL-CIO, CLC

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Tea Baggers

All jokes aside, I have been watching the Tax Day Tea Party protests and I really have no idea what they are getting so worked up about. Last time I checked my taxes were about the same as they have been the last few years. Thanks to Andrew Sullivan for this link to Conor Clarke’s post What Are Tax Day Tea Parties Protesting? which discusses the expiration of the Bush tax cuts that will only nominally affect those who make over 250,000 a year. I don’t like paying taxes either, but money for police, fire department, road maintenance, our military, the post office, schools, park maintenance, and everything else that makes our society work has to come from somewhere.