The following is an excerpt from OpinionJournal.com’s “Best of the Web” written by the editor, James Taranto.
James Taranto is out of the office on assignment. The excerpt below is from the July 16th BOTW Archives.
Everything Seemingly Is Spinning Out of Control
- “Bedbugs Cancel Colorado State University’s Annual ‘Sofa Round-Up’ “–headline, Rocky Mountain Collegian, July 16
Bottom Stories of the Day
- “Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz Sprains Ankle at Softball Game”–headline, Miami Herald, July 16
- “Sotomayor, Franken Both ‘Perry Mason’ Fans”–headline, Associated Press, July 15
- “Overseas Travel to and From Canada Down in May”–headline, Financial Post, July 16
Taxes Are Getting Higher
With their state facing fiscal ruin, some California lawmakers think drugs are the answer, the Sacramento Bee reports:
California could see a nearly $1.4 billion per year increase in state revenues were it to legalize marijuana, the state Board of Equalization says in an analysis of pending legislation to to [sic] do that.
The bill (Assembly Bill 390) by Assemblyman Tom Ammiano, D-San Francisco, is still awaiting its first committee hearing and is likely not to be considered until next year. It would impose not only sales taxes but a $50 per ounce fee on marijuana sales, which would be licensed by the state much as alcoholic beverages are regulated. . . .
“We can no longer afford to keep our heads in the sand when it comes to marijuana,” Ammiano said in a statement.
This has a lot of potential. If the tax shortfall continues, the state could start giving out [small amounts of marijuana] instead of IOUs. And why not an additional levy on Doritos, pizza and other fast food? Call it the munchies multiplier!
For more “Best of the Web” click here and look for the “Best of the Web Today” link in the middle column below “Today’s Columnists.
