Eat Snacks, Pay Tax...

From the book of "Tax 'em till it hurts"; Illinois has decided to impose a tax increase on virtually every consumer in the state. Starting September 1, if you eat snacks or drink coffee or tea; you will not be required to pay a painfully higher sales tax. The only exception is for snacks made with flour and food that requires refrigeration.

The state answered complaints by saying, it is not a tax increase; just a reclassification of consumables. Your budget will not know the difference. In short, up to now, if you purchased snacks, prepared coffee or tea, you were taxed at the food rate of about 2%. After September 1, these items will now be charge tax at the highest rate, which varies from city to city. In Chicago for example, you can pay as much as 13% tax for your Snicker Bar.

Have not heard anything about this? Probably not, since publicity would make the Governor look bad. By imposing this tax on business and charging it via retail purchase, the consumer will believe it is a retailer imposed price increase. Of course, if you purchase your Snicker bar at a Walgreens or Jewel, you can see the tax on the receipt; if you are inclined to look. If however, you purchase the food from the vending machine at your office, it will only appear as a price increase.

This tax as stealth as it is, is no accident. Our governor knew what he was doing. He will instantly raise several million dollars to spend on luxuries, waste, useless projects and other necessary initiatives; and most residents will be none the wiser.

As citizens of this state, we need to mark this down in our book so we remember when Pat Quinn asks for your vote next year. The state of Illinois has been hit hard by the recession. We are home to major manufacturers, such as Chrysler, Ford and Caterpillar - all of whom have been hit hard and seen thousands of employee layoffs. If it were necessary to raise funds for the state to cover expenses, the middle of a major recession is not the time to do this. So here are some alternatives I would suggest...

When the money runs out, stop spending!
When lobbyists and special interests ask for money, just say NO!
Keep the governors limo for a few thousand more miles...better yet, sell the limo and buy a Ford Focus!
Turn off the lights in the governor's mansion.
Instead of extravagant catered dinners for your "business" events, buy a box of burgers at the grocery store and toss them on the grill. I can even agree to a slice or two of cheese - processed American.
Instead of staffing the Secretary of State License Facility with a deadbeat at every station, have them learn to multi-task, like every other working stiff in the state. If you can run a cash register, I am confident you can be taught to take a picture.

Here's the bottom line...until you cut every penny of unnecessary spending out of the budget, I do not want to hear a word about increased taxes, reclassification of goods, revenue enhancement plans or whatever the buzzword of the day might be. If the state is taking money out of my pocket, there is only one word for it, TAX!