A Tax On Candy? Think Of The Children!
According to Boston.com, the Massachusetts governor wants to put a tax on candy and soda. Of course, people aren’t happy about paying more…especially in the current economy. The tax would be 5 percent, added to candy and soda purchases, if the Legislature adopts the measure. A portion of the revenue from the tax would go to a new Commonwealth Wellness Fund, which would pay for public health programs intended to cut down on substance abuse and childhood obesity, among other health concerns.
Now, when I was a kid, I bought a LOT of candy. Clearly, 5 percent would have cost me plenty. But I think one clerk is taking it a little far when he claims that “Kids are going to stop drinking sodas.” No, they’re not. It’s only a nickel for every dollar spent. What’s a soda cost in a conveince store? $1.50? $2? So, ten cents isn’t going to stop a kid from buying a soda. It may cause them to buy one less bottle a month or something, but they won’t stop. Did I stop buying candy when it went from 15 to 20 cents? No.
Don’t take this the wrong way. I hate tax and spend government and fully admit I have no idea what the details are about the situation in Massachusetts. I’m just rambling. I also like the part of the article where the one kid said it would be OK to tax soda because he doesn’t drink it. Great. Everything is fine as long as it doesn’t affect me. But he was mad about a tax on candy because, well, he eats candy.
This got me to thinking because I don’t even know if candy and soda is taxable here in Pennsylvania. My guess was that candy isn’t because I remember getting candy at the dollar store and had money out to cover the tax, but there was none. And that soda was because, well, it was just a guess. And I am right. Candy isn’t taxable, but soda is in Pennsylvania.
But what’s interesting is that soda is NOT taxable if you’re paying with food stamps. Something really weird is that caramel corn is NOT taxable, but Kettle Corn is. I don’t know why. And pumpkins for decoration are taxable. Pumpkins for eating are not.