Outrage brewing over proposed 1,900% beer tax hike

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Outrage brewing over proposed 1,900% beer tax hike | Local News | kgw.com | News for Portland Oregon and SW Washington

Four Portland legislators joined a Springfield senator to introduce Oregon House Bill 2461, which would impose a $49.61 tax on each barrel of beer produced by Oregon brewers.

The tax would raise revenue for the state at a time when budgets are running in the red. Specifically, the bill says it would fund prevention, treatment and recovery programs for those addicted to alcohol and other substances.

It also defends the tax by claiming alcoholism and “untreated substance abuse” costs the state $4.15 billion in “lost earnings” as well as more than $8 million for health care and nearly $1 billion in law enforcement-related expenditures.

Late edited version:

Four drunk Portland legislators joined a Springfield senator and Bill Maher at the local bordello to introduce Oregon House Bill 2461, which would impose a $49.61 tax on each barrel of beer produced by Oregon brewers.

The tax would raise revenue for the state for a few minutes at a time when budgets are running in the red. Specifically, the bill says it would fund prevention, treatment and recovery programs for those addicted to alcohol and other substances if and only if there is any money left after the government has used the funds to run other programs.

It also defends the tax by claiming alcoholism and “untreated substance abuse” created by government stressing out its citizens to the max, costs the state $4.15 billion in “lost earnings” as well as more than $8 million for health care and nearly $1 billion in law enforcement-related expenditures for drunken government workers.

The state legislators, the Senator and Mr. Maher suggest the residents turn to cannabis or other soft drugs as a replacement for the more expensive alcohol. "Grow your own programs" are to be established and subsidized through the Yes We Can, Trillion Dollar pork train traveling through the country. Brewers are expected to go out of business, but the state suggests they convert their breweries to grow-ops and coffee shops.

A trip to Amsterdam has been planned for further...

 

[MrFungus420]

Too damn bad.

Everyone who wanted/wants outrageous taxes on cigarettes has no right to complain about this. They are getting exactly what they wanted.

 

[jujuman13]

As a teetotaler, I am in full agreement with this proposed tax.
However, having said that, all that will happen is that enterprising folk will brew their own beer.
Homemade beer is so much better tasting than the pi$$ made and sold by major brewery's, as well as being less chemically flavored, thus is more nutritious.
Taking the above into consideration I foresee the tax revenue from beer sales falling at a drastic rate.
It will be a self defeating exercise in stupidity.

 

[Dr_Patrick]

Hopefully Red Hook doesn't go under. They make some damn good beer.

 

[Kushinator]

I do not live there, so i really could care less. Even if they tried that **** here, i could care less, because i brew my own beer.

Home Brew Kit

If they tax tequila, well then i am going to have to go to Mexico more often:mrgreen:

 

[Ikari]

You know what they claim they are going to fund with the taxes is not what they are going to fund with the taxes. Just more thievery from the government.