Drink tax unfair
I’ m writing in response to plans by politicians in Pittsburgh who are considering a 10 percent over the bar tax on all beverage alcohol. What planet do these people live on? As a tavern owner, I’m tired of politicians picking on a small segment of society to foot the bill for the rest of society. If Pittsburgh needs tax money, why don’t they tax everyone a little bit instead of laying all the burden on a few.
I’ve got some other ingenious ideas to raise money. Why don’t we levy a 10 percent tax on all legal advice? I bet the lawyers would love that. How about a 10 percent wage tax on all politicians’ pay checks? I don’t think this idea will fly. Why not charge a $10 access fee to your local mall. This idea actually sounds un-American.
When a little league needs a sponsor, tavern owners are there. When the local church has a Christmas bazaar, tavern owners donate door prizes. When the local firehouse needs anything, tavern owners respond. We support the community as much as any group, why ask us alone to raise your needed tax money?
If I lived in Pittsburgh and stopped after work to have a couple of drinks a few times a week, this tax will cost me personally about $150 a year. My neighbor drinks at home so he pays nothing. How fair is that? Let’s share the burden.
As a tavern owner, the state already tells me what days I’m allowed to be open. They tell me what time to open and what time to close. They tell me where to buy my products (Pa. state store). It’s illegal for me to purchase my liquor out of state, even though it would save me $200 a week. This is a savings I could pass on to my customers. The state is basically determining the price of my drinks and now Pittsburgh wants another 10 percent on top of all that.
If the general public doesn’t join us in this fight, a bottle of beer will soon be considered a luxury.
Michael Radliff, president
Montgomery County Tavern Association
An ‘equalizing’ formula
In the Dec. 11 edition of the Herald-Standard there was an article “REACHing Out -Panel seeks input on school funding reform.”
Whatever happened to the old equalizer that takes the total amount of money available and divides it by the number of students and then allots an equal per pupil amount to all districts that is calculated from their total enrollment? It seems so simple to me. And just and equal to all. This could be a formula for all students in public, private and parochial schools.
Fr. Francis A. Lesniowski
pastor of St. Rita R.C. Church
Connellsville