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News

Taxing Amazon.com Purchases & Sugary Soda Pop

By  Zach Behrens
Published Feb 18, 2010 11:00 PM
pop-tax.jpg
Photo by atomicshakespeares via LAist Featured Photos on Flickr
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The state senate today passed a bill that would impose a sales tax on Amazon.com and other online purchases, which would raise $107 million annually, according to the Sacramento Bee. Governor Schwarzenegger said he would veto the measure when it was introduced last year and Overstock.com threatened to pull its affiliate program, which provides income to California residents, if the tax was approved.

Also in the Senate, a bill introduced today would tax commercial beverages. 1 penny would be applied "on every teaspoon of added sugar and other caloric sweeteners" to be paid by the "companies that bottle soda and make finished beverages or syrup for fountain drinks," explained Reuters. If passed it could raise $1.5 billion, which would be distributed throughout the state for schools and cities to fight childhood obesity.

Earlier Today: Bill to Legalize Marijuana Reintroduced to State Assembly

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