Paper or plastic?

Let's tax both! That is of course the proposal AB 2769 by Assemblyman Lloyd Levine. San Bernardino lawmakers will make key votes on this issue in the near future.

The claim is that Californians don't recycle bags enough. People have proved that they will recycle when the option is available.

Recycling plastic bags makes sense because plastic bags make sense.  They are inexpensive and convenient, and most Californians prefer them.  People reuse plastic bags around the house and in the yard.

Paper bags are reused by Californians everyday.

Unfortunately, AB 2769, proposed by Assembly Member Lloyd Levine, would tax paper AND plastic bags.  Just what California needs with economic growth already slowing: new and higher taxes!

Certainly we can't afford another tax.  Since the levy would be imposed on bags used at grocery stores, it is essentially a food tax.  But food prices have been rising sharply, as well as the cost of gas, making every trip to the supermarket more expensive.

This burden would fall most heavily on those who can least afford it--both poor and larger families.  The per bag fee might not seem like much, but it would add up over the year.  And for many families in today's uncertain economic times, any cost increase is too much.

AB 2769 would also impose new, and frankly unrealistic, waste diversion targets for plastic bags.  The state also would have to enforce this dictate and collect the new tax with more bureaucrats of course.

AB 2769 is bad tax and a bad idea. The legislature or Governor should bag it!