New Food and Beverage Taxes Are Irresponsible
Governor Ritter has proposed imposing a discriminatory food tax on a select group of consumer products in Coloradans grocery carts. The 2.9% tax increase would be imposed on only certain foods such as candy and nearly all non-alcoholic beverages, including soft drinks, diet soft drinks, ready-to-drink teas, flavored bottled waters, juice drinks, sports drinks and energy drinks. Gov. Ritter fails to recognize how irresponsible it is to impose new taxes on the people of Colorado in such a difficult economic time.
- Colorado needs to be responsible and not penalize lower- and middle-income citizens, who would be hurt the most by this type of regressive tax.
- Colorado must be responsible for our businesses, which would be hit hard as consumers stop buying these beverages, shift spending to other products, and/or shift purchases to neighboring states.
- Coloradans are responsible for our own choices. We do not need the government acting as a “nanny” and telling us what we should and should not eat and drink.
- Coloradans today will be responsible for what happens tomorrow. If this food and beverage tax is allowed, it could open the door for even more taxes.
Colorado must be responsible.