Tax Refund

 

1. As a PA beer ‘enthusiast’ I wish we could now get rid of this cash cow: 

   Johnstown Flood
   snip…
   Many of you have probably heard of the Johnstown Flood, one of the worst natural disasters in United States history. What you may not know, however, is that this 1936 flood is still taxing Pennsylvania alcohol sales.

   Originally created to channel emergency relief funds to victims of the Johnstown Flood, a 10 percent temporary tax that was placed on the sale of all alcohol in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania. It was only supposed to last a few years to raise the $41 million necessary to rebuild the community. Nearly 70 years later, that tax is still in place and now stands at 18 percent (not including the statewide 6% sales tax). The near $200 million collected annually no longer goes to flood victims, however, instead going into the general fund for lawmakers to use as they see fit. A temporary tax that has overstayed its welcome.

   Proving once again: Taxes are like heroin.

   Posted by Fine Old Cannibal       05/26/2006  at  08:13 AM  



2. FOC: that’s the reason why I filed this story under the category of “Greed”. Taxes, once imposed, almost never go away - no matter what the reason. Once lawmakers get used to the idea of having money to spend they don’t want to give it up. Heroin is not nearly as addictive as taxes are to politicians. There ought to be a “drop dead date” on every tax that would require a vote to renew it. Including the danged income tax.

   

   Posted by The Skipper       05/26/2006  at  08:37 AM  



3. I’m with you on the ‘drop dead date’. 

   When I lived in Connecticut, the state income tax that King Lowell P. Weicker established was only supposed to be ‘temporary’… That was back in ‘91 I believe.  It’s still there and will probably never go away.

   Of course the tool of choice on these taxes is allowing them to flow into an unallocated ‘general fund’.  Once the cash makes it there, it’s open season for the pols.

   Posted by Fine Old Cannibal       05/26/2006  at  08:50 AM  



4. Maybe you can use some of the money we gave you from 39 to 42, or ship your illegals to one of many islands you nicked off us at that time,

   Posted by bulldog       05/26/2006  at  12:53 PM  



5. But, then, it has already been pre-emptively replaced with the Al GOre “I invented the Internet” tax, a few years ago…

   Temporary taxes, temporary guest workers, some things just never go away…

   Posted by Rat Patrol       05/26/2006  at  01:04 PM  



6. Comrades,

   Up here in the People’s Republic of Maine, our Department of Transportation set up the Maine Turnpike Authority to develop, fund, and maintain the Maine Turnpike. The turnpike was built with bond money, and in order to retire the bonds without gouging the taxpayers, a toll system was established. The ads, on television, radio and even in print clearly promised that once the bonds were paid off, the toll booths would be removed.

   Guess what? The bonds were repaid 10 years ago. We now have ES-PASS lanes added, and tolls increased in order to pay to widen the turnpike to lessen the bottlenecks which occur at… wait for it… the TOLL BOOTHS!

   When asked why the toll booths were still in place, the MDOT and all the other hacks slurping at the public trough wailed and gnashed their teeth and said that we NEEDED the money to operate the Turnpike Authority.... a vicious cycle here… they need to have tolls in order to fund the Turnpike Authority which exists to… operate the Toll System..... AAAAAAGGGGGGHHHHHHH!!!!!!!

   Respects,

   Gwedd

   Posted by Gwedd       05/26/2006  at  02:25 PM  



7. Gwedd, what is the “comrades” bollocks?, im not your comrad and never will be,its to commie. you got any ?

   Posted by bulldog       05/26/2006  at  03:18 PM  



8. sorry Gwedd,

   Respects,

   bulldog

   small b n all that
   
   

   Posted by bulldog       05/26/2006  at  03:22 PM  



9. Bulldog,

   I am simply reclaiming the title from the Commies..... it was widely used as a mark of friendship, and I use it in that manner. I’m also trying to figure out how to reclaim the word “gay” from the fudgepackers.....

   next time I am over there, we should hook up and I’ll buy you a glass of Lamm’s navy rum and a pint.

   Respects,

   Gwedd

   Posted by Gwedd       05/26/2006  at  03:53 PM  



10. You know why they are dropping this tax don’t you...it’s because there is no longer a difference between local and long distance calls. I have so-many ‘any time’ minutes to call anywhere. No long distance fee involved, hence no tax.

    I’m reminded of a story from last week. They are dropping one phone tax and adding another. How does $1/month tax on phone numbers sound. I have four phones, a land line, and three family cell phones that I pay for. Looks like my taxes are going up. Maybe someone more adept at searching can find the article.

    Posted by Christopher       05/26/2006  at  04:19 PM  

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