BOTTOMS UP: Paterson Won't Tax your Fanta

Governor Patterson, in the midst of a whirlwind "Town Hall Meeting" tour of New York's forgotten districts, announced today that funds from the federal stimulus package will negate the need for so-called "obesity taxes" and similar taxes and fees proposed in Albany. That means that soda, gym memberships, ski lift tickets, haircuts etc. will not be subjected to Albany's heavy hand.

This should make everyone happy. Not the health care and teachers unions, which are reported to view the move as a direct attack on their interests. Any monies from the stimulus package used to counteract additional taxes and fees are monies not used to sustain excessive health care and education services.

New York State's predicament is similar to that of the domestic auto industry, which is being crippled by union contracts , pensions, lobbyists et al. Toyota, a company who's workers are not union organized, seem nearly immune to the catastrophic "end-of-the-world" scenario that GM, Ford and Chrysler are facing.

Paterson's approval ratings have dropped to near record lows due to the proposal of these so-called "obesity taxes" and fees. Now that he has reversed his stance, he has drawn the ire of the overbearing and unfairly influential health care and teachers unions. The irony is that the only people that could have afforded such taxes and fees are those workers fortunate enough to be members of such influential unions.

As Reported by the Albany Times-Union.

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