Stream criticizes governor’s support of illegal drug tax
“Charging taxes on illegal substances is one step in the direction of legalization," remarked YR President Andrew Stream. “The idea of taxing this activity without inflicting any punishment whatsoever is in effect endorsing drug use.”
The proposed tax rates are $3.50 per gram of marijuana and $200 per gram of other controlled substances, regardless of purity.
Stream continued, “Even more ridiculous is the confidentiality clause that the bill includes. The identities of drug dealers who request tax stamps would not be provided to proper law enforcement officials. I’m astonished that a former attorney general who took action across the state to rid the streets of illegal drugs is now attempting to make a profit from them.”
The governor's proposal also includes tax increases on cigars, petroleum, beer, and oddly enough, malt beverages, which are proposed to be taxed at $2.54 per gallon. This is all part of his $124 billion budget proposal for the next fiscal year.
Stream urges the governor to find alternative methods for decreasing government spending by eliminating frivolous state programs citing it as an effective way of “closing the gap.”
“While I’m upset, I am not entirely surprised by this move. This is the same governor that pressed for drivers licenses for illegal immigrants,” concluded Stream.
The Governor's 2008-2009 Executive Budget is available at http://publications.budget.state.ny.us/eBudget0809/ExecutiveBudget.html.
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