A Sin Tax On Soda

Congress is considering adding a "sin tax" to sales of soft drinks, energy drinks, and other sweetened beverages both to reduce consumption and raise revenue for President Obama's health care plan.

The Senate Finance Committee has a session scheduled today to hear varying proposals from experts who've been looking for ways to help finance President Obama's proposed universal health care plan, expected to cost $1.2 trillion. Among the leading proponents of the idea is the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI), a longtime crusader for less sugar, salt and other harmful food additives. It advocates a federal excise tax on sugary sodas as well as energy and sports drinks and sweetened tea drinks. Diet sodas would get a free ride. Current thinking is that a tax of three cents per 12-ounce drink would generate about $24 billion over the next four years.

Doritos are next, people.