Bag makers play the 'tax' card

The Progressive Bag Affiliates arm of the American Chemistry Council today released a poll that shows that a majority of Californians oppose the proposed 25 cent-per-bag tax being considered by the state legislature. Check out the poll results here. What's this about? Consider this: One of the most effective arguments that grocery manufacturers have had in recent years in stopping bottle deposit laws has been to charge that deposits are taxes. It's easy to whip up public opposition to new taxes -- and political challengers can always play the "My opponent raised taxes" card if the incumbent votes in favor of deposits. Plastic bag makers, under siege in California, are playing the "tax" card too. And they've actually got a legitimate point, since citizens who pay a fee for plastic bags can't get the money returned if they recycle the bags. Bag tax supporters argue that it's a voluntary tax -- after all, no one is forced to use plastic bags. Well sure, just about all taxes are voluntary on some level. All except this one.