'Fat tax' urged for video games, TV ads
06-19-03, 08:03 AM
#1
DVD Talk Special Edition
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: 30-minute drive from Tampa HR....
Posts: 1,261
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
'Fat tax' urged for video games, TV ads
http://www.cnn.com/2003/TECH/ptech/0....ap/index.html
ALBANY, New York (AP) -- A proposal to tax junk food, video games and television commercials to pay for an obesity prevention program faces stiff opposition from lawmakers and business groups.
Chances of the proposal passing before lawmakers go home for the summer on June 19 looked slim after a spokesman for Republican Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno said he would not support the tax.
The 1 percent tax hike proposed by Assemblyman Felix Ortiz would apply to junk food, video games and television commercials, which Ortiz blames on New York's growing obesity problem. Ortiz, a Democrat, did not rule out proposing tax increases on other things that he believes contribute to obesity.
Business groups don't like it
Ortiz said the proposed tax would raise at least $1 million to jump-start the obesity prevention program aimed at developing health promotion campaigns, establishing nutrition and physical activity programs in schools and others.
Business groups oppose the proposal, arguing New Yorkers already face high taxes. The Legislature recently increased the state sales tax and income tax to help the state's fiscal crisis.
So this is our legislators hard at work?
What's next, fines for being on the bottom while having sex?
ALBANY, New York (AP) -- A proposal to tax junk food, video games and television commercials to pay for an obesity prevention program faces stiff opposition from lawmakers and business groups.
Chances of the proposal passing before lawmakers go home for the summer on June 19 looked slim after a spokesman for Republican Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno said he would not support the tax.
The 1 percent tax hike proposed by Assemblyman Felix Ortiz would apply to junk food, video games and television commercials, which Ortiz blames on New York's growing obesity problem. Ortiz, a Democrat, did not rule out proposing tax increases on other things that he believes contribute to obesity.
Business groups don't like it
Ortiz said the proposed tax would raise at least $1 million to jump-start the obesity prevention program aimed at developing health promotion campaigns, establishing nutrition and physical activity programs in schools and others.
Business groups oppose the proposal, arguing New Yorkers already face high taxes. The Legislature recently increased the state sales tax and income tax to help the state's fiscal crisis.
So this is our legislators hard at work?
What's next, fines for being on the bottom while having sex?
06-19-03, 08:11 AM
#2
DVD Talk Legend
Re: 'Fat tax' urged for video games, TV ads
Originally posted by spankyj
What's next, fines for being on the bottom while having sex?
What's next, fines for being on the bottom while having sex?
06-19-03, 09:53 AM
#4
DVD Talk Hero
Junk food, I can see... almost. But how do commercials and videogames contribute to obesity? Stereotype much? Let's tax comic books too, since, as we see on the Simpsons, most guys who read comicbooks are obese. How about candy? Soda? Heck, most obese people sit on couches or chairs while they watch their tv and eat their snacks... let's tax furniture too.
I know the media likes to focus on the most ridiculous forms of politics, and that there is some good being done by elected officials... but this kind of stuff makes me sick. Similar to the law that's trying to be passed in LA prohibiting lap dances... I'll never in my life get a lap dance, but I don't think that we should be spending government resources trying to make it illegal.
I know the media likes to focus on the most ridiculous forms of politics, and that there is some good being done by elected officials... but this kind of stuff makes me sick. Similar to the law that's trying to be passed in LA prohibiting lap dances... I'll never in my life get a lap dance, but I don't think that we should be spending government resources trying to make it illegal.
06-19-03, 09:57 PM
#11
DVD Talk Special Edition
Join Date: Oct 1999
Posts: 1,555
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally posted by Trigger
I can understand taxing junk food, but video games?? I'm not fat and I play video games... idiots.
I can understand taxing junk food, but video games?? I'm not fat and I play video games... idiots.
06-20-03, 03:08 AM
#14
DVD Talk Platinum Edition
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: MD
Posts: 3,137
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
whats with the sudden interest in fat people all of a sudden? First I hear about this fat tax. Next I picked up the newspaper and they are talking about about fat lawsuits suing company's. Sheesh.
06-21-03, 05:53 AM
#17
DVD Talk Gold Edition
Join Date: May 2000
Location: Kingston, TN
Posts: 2,309
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Well, I am fat - I prefer jolly though, and I have been so busy with a wedding I have not played any of my game systems in a month. Plus, I have not been eating junk food. Therefore, since I am no thinner than when we started planning the wedding I see no correlation. Maybe he could tax my genetics.
Man, I hate democrats. They think they should take all our money and make programs to help people. If people want to get skinny, they can skip the next game system and buy a treadmill - or better yet walk outside for free and then play some video games.
Man, I hate democrats. They think they should take all our money and make programs to help people. If people want to get skinny, they can skip the next game system and buy a treadmill - or better yet walk outside for free and then play some video games.
06-21-03, 05:10 PM
#18
DVD Talk Legend
I think I might put on a few more pounds so that I can get my "Fair share" for my new "Disability"
The new American Dream sue someone to make it
The new American Dream sue someone to make it
06-22-03, 10:25 PM
#19
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Columbia Heights,MN
Posts: 474
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
ahhh...democrats hard at work, i shouldnt say that, now im gonna get taxed just fo saying it, and my first born is to be aborted, damn it, lock the doors!
06-23-03, 06:03 PM
#20
DVD Talk Special Edition
Join Date: Apr 1999
Location: Toledo, Ohio
Posts: 1,705
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Why not tax, or better yet, fine the ones who are truely responsible for fat and overweight children... their parents! They are the only ones who can truely change the lifestyles of their children by changing their diet. Your diet is even more important than exercise.
06-25-03, 10:22 PM
#23
Retired
That's one of the funnier bills I've ever seen. 
Heck I eat a good bit of junk food, play a fair amount of games, and I have no fat on my body.
But to be fair I have a super high metabolism and go to the gym.
Heck I eat a good bit of junk food, play a fair amount of games, and I have no fat on my body.
But to be fair I have a super high metabolism and go to the gym.
