FLASHREPORT

AB 2829, The Plastic Bag Tax -- Bad Politics and Bad Policy

by Jon Fleischman - Publisher (bio) (email)

4-18-2008 6:00 am

It seems like nothing makes a liberal more happy and excited than using the coercive powers of government to modify human behavior.  Never mind that our Republic was founded on the notions of individual liberty and personal freedom...  Democrats in Sacramento are constantly passing bills (hundreds of them each year) that place restrictions, impose fees, provide incentives - all geared towards shifting decision-making away from the individual, and over to the collective - in this case state government.

 

This election cycle, liberal Democrat Mike Davis of Los Angeles has introduced a classic case of what I call "social engineering" legislation.  His bill, AB 2829 would mandate that every large grocery store or pharmacy charge a 25 cent tax on every plastic bag issued to a customer.  Davis doesn't hide his motive - he wants people to stop using plastic bags, and he is going to try to use the coercive power of the government to achieve his goal.

Of course, even though it would smack each shopper with substantial increased costs, this legislation is not called a "tax increase" but rather is labeled as a fee.  For those who don't know it, one of the most significant and disturbing ways that state government is growing is a "loophole" that allows a tax to be passed by a majority (instead of a 2/3 vote) of the legislature if the proceeds from the tax have a nexus back to the tax itself (for an example, you could pass a tax on waffles with a majority vote if the funds went to establish some sort of state waffle-eating safety program).

One need look no further than the added burden of a tax increase to oppose Davis' ill-advised legislation.  But if you go beyond the principle of the matter, and dig into the policy, you find that like with so many other areas (such as global warming alarmism), liberals pursue their agenda without having solid science on their side.  The presumption of Davis' legislation is that plastic bags are worse for the environment than paper ones, and therefore we should "guide" consumers away from choosing plastic by charging them more money.

FR correspondent and longtime former State Legislator Ray Haynes has done to research on this matter, and presents a few points that are worthy of note (figures that Assemblyman Davis chooses to ignore)...

In the search for marketing bang, these companies ignore the basic fact that plastic bags can be recycled. Indeed, it costs an incredible 91 percent less to recycle equivalent weights of plastic and paper, and the plastic recycling market is growing as consumers become aware of the option.

 

Plastic bags, made from natural gas, also are tree-friendly. In contrast, the production of even "recycled" paper bags requires constant infusions of virgin timber. Countless more trees will die so Whole Foods can provide its customers with paper bags.

 

 

This last item should draw the attention of hypocritical global warming alarmists who simultaneous want to ban plastic bags and stop global warming.

Unfortunately, going "green" has become a big business.  There is a growing industry of those who produce allegedly environmentally friendly products when their products are less about the environment and more about profit for those who want government to provide them with an unfair market advantage.  This technique is referred to as "greenwashing" is taking place more and more often.  In the case of AB 2829, you can be sure that the industry that produces paper bags  is salivating at a potential increase in business due to government meddling.  It's totally un-American...

Frankly, I couldn't say it better than longtime tax fighter and advocate for personal freedom Lew Uhler, President of the National Tax Limitation Committee:

 

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