GOP triumvirate bashes Dems' tax relief plans

As we head into June when the state budget must be approved, Democrats have again come forward with their annual list of taxes to increase.

Despite record high gas prices, Democrats in the Legislature are now talking about raising the gas tax and continue to discuss massive toll increases.

While our reservoirs are filled with free rain from the sky, Democrats would like to tax the water that flows from those reservoirs to the faucets in our homes.

Now they have released details of yet another expensive proposal that would add a new deposit tax on most products that are sold in plastic, glass and aluminum bottles and cans.

The proposed legislation will add an additional 10 or 20 cents to the cost of everyday products and will make our state more expensive and less affordable for residents that are already overtaxed. A case of soda containing 24 cans would cost an additional $2.40 at the checkout counter.

If this legislation is approved, recycling will no longer be as easy as putting a bin on the curb for haulers to take away. Consumers will become trash haulers who must lug loads of dirty bottles and cans back to stores to recover the initial deposit that was paid.

Retailers lacking storage space will be forced to stuff those dirty bottles and cans returned by consumers next to food and groceries that will be placed for sale.

It should be clear that the Democrats' deposit tax would only make the process of recycling more expensive and inconvenient. This legislation, while well intended, is not responsive to the needs of our state and its citizens and should be rejected.
Andrew R. Ciesla, Senator






David W. Wolfe, Assemblyman










James W. Holzapfel, Assemblyman










10th District