WaPo Again Pushes for Statewide Bag Tax in Md., Fails to Mention Newspaper Bags Exempt
Yesterday I critiqued Washington Post staffer Michael Laris's reporting on the Montgomery County [Md.] Council passing into law a 5-cent bag tax effective January 1, 2012. Laris omitted the fact that the county bag tax has a glaring exemption for newspaper bags, including the sleeves that protect home-delivered newspapers from the elements. This was despite the fact that his newspaper's editorial board has been in favor of similar bans which carve out similar exemptions for newspaper bags.
Well, today the Post editorial staff once again beat the drum for a statewide bag tax to mirror that of Montgomery County's. And yet again the Post conveniently omitted the fact that such a bill would likely exempt newspaper bags. And yet, here's how the Post preachily concluded its editorial entitled "Montgomery Cleans Up"*:
In applauding the council’s move, [County Executive] Leggett characterized the bag tax as a “tangible way people can say, ‘Look, I’m doing my part.’ ” Now it’s time for the rest of the state to do its part.
* the online edition has a different header: "Montgomery County's sensible plastic bag tax."
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Comments
This one will be fun to pick apart
Submitted by bkeyser on Thu, 05/05/2011 - 3:52pm.
From the article:
"Let’s hope that when the next legislative session rolls around, state lawmakers will show similar resolve in adopting a worthwhile initiative that would go a long way toward helping to clean up Maryland’s streets and waterways. [snip]
"The measure, which will go into effect on Jan. 1, is projected to raise about $1 million a year that will go to the county’s water quality improvement fund. The real aim of the measure, though, is not to raise money but to get people to change their habits and use fewer plastic bags. [snip]
"Any trepidation about the public’s ability to adapt should be assuaged by the experience of the District, which has been taxing disposable bags since January 2010. Residents have been unfazed, making reusable bags part of their shopping routine or realizing they don’t really need a plastic bag to carry that gallon of milk. Likewise, businesses have reported no problems and have learned that there is an economic benefit to not having to provide “free” bags. City officials say supermarkets estimate there’s been a 60 percent decrease in bag use. [snip]
"In applauding the council’s move, Mr. Leggett characterized the bag tax as a “tangible way people can say, ‘Look, I’m doing my part.’ ” Now it’s time for the rest of the state to do its part."
Okay.
It's not about money, but it's projected to raise $1M annually. Well, if it's not about money, then take money out of the equation. If it's a righteous act, than criminalize the use of plastic bags. Just simply prohibit it. Clearly there are alternatives, so just make plastic bags illegal.
Which has more plastic: a plastic grocery bag or a gallon container for milk? The milk container, I'm quite sure. Why are they not targeting milk containers?
If DC usage of plastic bags has dropped by 60%, can the WaPo editors show a tangible savings in street cleaning costs or waterway cleaning costs as a result? Can they express a personal observation that indicates the streets are noticably cleaner and Rock Creek is devoid of plastic bags that used to populate it's every bend? If not, then this seems to be a made-up reason for taxing the bags.
A "tangible way people can say, 'Look, I'm doing my part' "? Doing their part in what, exactly? Not illegally dumping their trash on the city streets or in the DC waterways? Not negligently allowing their plastic grocery bags to grow legs and walk out of their kitchens to hang out on DC streets or row with canooers in the Potomac? And what part is the rest of the state supposed to do?
Don't like the bags? Call to prohibit them. They did that with robbery and murder, what's the challenge in prohibiting plastic bags? Or all plastic for that matter. Such drivel. Mother earth can take it, she gave us the plastic in the first place. You wanna stop people from throwing their garbage on the street? Give 'em a large metal trash can and a stick, and make them spend the next four weekends picking it up. A pig outside of the pen is still a pig.
Paper sacks...
Submitted by almostacowboy on Thu, 05/05/2011 - 5:32pm.
or "pokes" as they're called in the south - don't forget them, too!
as a Freestater of Md
Submitted by theduck6 on Fri, 05/06/2011 - 7:58am.
I can tell you the state motto is;
"If you can dream it, we can tax it"
It's really as simple as that. When dems tax it's either a money grab or an attempt to alter behaviour...or both ...usually both
One question
Submitted by The Irishman on Thu, 05/05/2011 - 4:25pm.
What do I use to pick up my dog's poo when we're out for a walk?
I would SERIOUSLY prefer a plastic bag.
You don't have a dog, Black Polish Catholic Female Zippers.
Submitted by SickofLibs on Thu, 05/05/2011 - 4:38pm.
Everyone knows that.
Yes sir, Yes sir, one bag full...
Submitted by Chris Norman on Fri, 05/06/2011 - 1:09am.
Well, by definition, doesn't the WaPo's plastic bag already come filled with poop? I wouldn't want to be the one taking it out to make way for fresher poop.
Everyone is wrong
Submitted by The Irishman on Thu, 05/05/2011 - 4:44pm.
And you should stop spreading rumors.
What rumors is Ken Shepherd spreading?
Submitted by SickofLibs on Thu, 05/05/2011 - 6:32pm.
Wha? Who? Ha?
Talking to you
Submitted by The Irishman on Thu, 05/05/2011 - 6:50pm.
I'm sure you knew that.
The progressive motto....
Submitted by almostacowboy on Thu, 05/05/2011 - 5:30pm.
"Taxes for thee, but not for me"
IS A BAG TAX..........
Submitted by Herbster on Thu, 05/05/2011 - 10:24pm.
Is a bag tax in Maryland a tax on Milkuski? Just asking.
No
Submitted by theduck6 on Fri, 05/06/2011 - 8:01am.
didn't you read? It doesn't apply to short bags used to transport poo.
Game-set-match!
Submitted by Pilgrim1949 on Fri, 05/06/2011 - 11:11am.
theduck6 trots to the net to met the dead-bird, hanging soft lob and with a mighty swipe of the racquet drives the ball deep into the baseline corner, the air friction igniting the ball's fuzz as it whizzes past the lobber.
The scorched orb is picked up with tongs and placed into a PC-tree/slug-hugger-approved container (not plastic, of course!) for proper disposal at the sanitary landfill.
"Ye canne change the laws of physics....." but some politicians believe that with the right legislation you can pretend they don't really apply to your own pet projects...
it would be funny if Maryland
Submitted by OldJoe on Fri, 05/06/2011 - 9:47am.
Imposed a 10 cent 'recycling tax' on every copy of every newspaper sold there.