Coalition of environmental groups and a legislator want “No child left inside”
HOLLYWOOD, CA (Hollywood Today) 1/26/08 — A Democratic lawmaker in New Mexico wants to tax televisions and video games to raise funds to fight childhood obesity and improve education in the state, officials said Friday.
According to newsletter LBN Alert, the bill, introduced by state legislator Gail Chesey, is backed by grassroots environmental group, the Sierra Club, “The bill proposes levying a one-percent excise tax on the purchase of TVs, video games and video game equipment and would create the ‘Leave No Child Inside’ fund to receive those revenues,” said Michael Casaus of the Sierra Club.
The author and sponsors of the bill, who include dozens of other organizations besides the Sierra Club, according to Casaus, expect to raise four million dollars a year through the tax. The items that would be taxed have been carefully chosen because of their links to obesity and poor school performance, the Sierra Club says, citing medical studies. According to a study cited by backers of the bill, hands-on, outdoor study leads to better grades among students, including in mathematics and science.
New Mexico failed to pass a similar bill last year and Wisconsin is mulling a similar measure with hopes it won’t be termed a “sin tax” for PR reasons.
While we’re on LBN Alert, our fave newsletter, they note that for the first time, all four Baldwin brothers are employed on hit television shows. Alec is on “30 Rock,” William is on “Dirty Sexy Money,” Daniel is on “Celebrity Rehab” and Stephen is on “Celebrity Apprentice. Plus the item that “To inject some new life into the struggling Miss America pageant, a four-episode reality series, “Miss America: Reality Check,” will follow the contestants as they prep for the 87-year-old contest. They’re also going to play “Guitar Hero” for the talent competition.”
8 responses so far ↓
1 Land of Entrapment // Jan 27, 2008 at 7:09 am
This is just the tip of the turd of what is going on in our state. Thinking of doing any business in NM? DO YOUR HOMEWORK CAREFULLY.
I’m relocating my business along with 275 position out of here. The taxes in place and proposed are staggering. Those tax breaks that the NM State film commission are handing out like carrots have a hidden cost.
A popular saying in NM is to never turn you back on any NM politician. First they pick your pocket the ram it home just for good measure.
ZORRO WHERE ARE YOU???
2 S. Iscariot // Jan 29, 2008 at 2:00 pm
I’m just wondering when, if ever, anyone’s going to start looking at parents. Instead of making everyone else suffer, instead of penalizing people who are able to responsibly balance video games and leisure activities with an active and healthy lifestyle, why not take a look at the parents who are ALLOWING their children to stay inside? I mean, is a tax honestly going to help matters? I’ve seen the same thing happen with cigarettes, yet there are people still smoking.
Rather than feeling that “educational programs” and creative, anti-obesity advertising is the answer, why not 1) allow parents to parent their kids and 2) change the curriculum of existing academic health classes to include MUCH more information about nutrition and health? Beyond that, it’s not the government’s job to play nanny to everyone else’s kids.
Crappy parents exist. Stop penalizing decent parents or, really, the public in general for the mistakes of a few. I’m aware of how much the state LOVES fear campaigning, but it’s gotten old. Mind your own business for once.
3 SarcoNM // Jan 30, 2008 at 12:05 am
Dear Land of Entrapment, I highly recommend you move to Seattle — now there’s a town that knows how to tax!
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