During an Environment Committee public hearing Wednesday Representative Len Greene (R-105) said he opposes adding another new tax on hard-working residents only trying to bring food home to their families.
S.B. 58 – AN ACT ESTABLISHING A FEE FOR THE USE OF PLASTIC AND PAPER BAGS AT GROCERY AND RETAIL ESTABLISHMENTS proposes to charge customers a five-cent fee for the use of any plastic or paper bag provided by a grocer or retail establishment. The new fee would not apply to any customer who is a recipient of food stamps.
“Considering the fact Connecticut’s unemployment remain over 9 percent and our underemployment number is even higher I believe it would be fundamentally irresponsible to create a new tax on grocery bags,” Rep. Greene said. “I truly believe we can reduce the amount of litter in our community by pro-actively using education initiatives, common-sense and private sector solutions.”
Rep. Greene said he was happy to see so many concerned citizens bring their concerns to the Environment Committee during the hearing, adding that he gained valuable perspective on the issue from both sides.
“Many local businesses already offer incentives and alternative options to reuse and recycle bags, incentives that have had a significant impact,” Rep. Greene said. “If we utilize these positive initiatives we can solve this problem without adding to the cost burden of our citizens.”
Thank goodness. This would be a horrific intrusion into our lives if this were to go in, and a picture-perfect example of the nanny state telling us how to live. The government simply does not have that right.
It’s a shame Rep. Green does not seem to realize that the tax can be avoided by simply bringing your own reusable shopping bag. Disposable plastic bags are a waste of a non-renewable resource,oil, harmful to the environment and wildlife, in addition to adding to unsightly litter. While there are incentives, there are people that are simply too lazy to bring their own bag, an that being the case, let them pay the tax, which can be utilized for the cost of litter cleanup.