This would be enough to get reach for a stiff drink . . . if it weren’t prohibitively expensive. Oregon legislators are proposing a 1900% tax increase so voters not only have to face the economic crisis but do it without beer.
Oregon House Bill 2461, which would impose a $49.61 tax on each barrel of beer produced by Oregon brewers.
The money would go to fund prevention, treatment and recovery programs for those addicted to alcohol and other substances. The increase is meant to fill a $4.15 billion shortfall — the equivalent of roughly four days that we spend on the war effort.
Legislators trying to fill budget gaps across the country can also rely on recent studies showing a correlation between tax increases and sobriety.
. Yet, there has been no study on the political impact of when people finally sober up and realize how legislators in Congress and the states have fouled up the economy. Fortunately, scientists are now working on a pill to erase bad memories.
The tax plan could prove devastating to Oregon’s native beer makers, forcing some to leave the state.
For now, you will at least know the answer to what ales you in Oregon and other states.
For the full story, click here.
Going to a neighboring state for your beer to avoid the tax always happens in these cases. Here in Utah, we often purchase Wyoming beer to avoid the 3.2% weak stuff. Oregon is run by a bunch of socialists anyway.
Sally,
The Sunday beer thing is the last remnant of the days of Blue Laws which were basically an attempt to legislate the Sabbath.
Also, they’re not taxing the sale of beer, just the production. So the cost of my six-pack of Black Butte Porter is going to go up just as much as the people in Oregon.
as in to the cross
Mespo:
I disagree, there is no virtue in taxation even with ascension.
This was a funny comment on a novel approach at possible taxation to end the budget crisis by a poster named “oowawa” on the last linked website,
Quote: “bert, I’m ag’in’ it.”
“It’s not hard to home-brew beer. If you’re going to tax sin, there’s plenty of sins more lucrative than beer. If there were only some workable way to tax fornication, the budget crisis would be over.” End Quote