Which Way, L.A.?
Could an Alcohol Tax Help California's Bottom Line?
Maryland today hiked the sales tax on alcohol by 50% to pay for schools. Illinois and Washington have recently raised alcohol taxes. California is hard up for money too, but...
By Warren Olney • • 52m ListenStrapped for money like many states, Maryland today hiked the sales tax on alcohol by 50 percent to pay for schools. Illinois and Washington have recently raised alcohol taxes. California is hard up for money too, but the last year alcohol taxes were raised in Sacramento was 1991. An industry watchdog says maybe that’s because of $5 million in political contributions to lawmakers and initiative campaigns. Also, the ShakeAlert system that warns of earthquakes. We talk to a man who has one. On our rebroadcast of today’s To the Point, the pipeline that divides America — in more ways than one.
Banner image: A customer shops for beer at the City Beer Store in San Francisco, California. Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images
In this episode
4 storiesJerry Brown Puts Pen to Paper
Governor Brown has until Sunday night to sign or veto dozens of bills passed by the Assembly and Senate. David Siders is keeping track for the Sacramento Bee .
Read the story7 minState Finances and Taxes on Alcohol
It's harder than ever to raise taxes in the midst of a recession. Around the country, states are beginning to increase levies on alcohol. How long has it been since California increased alcohol taxes? Alcohol Justice has just published a study called " Drunk with Power : Industry Kills Alcohol Mitigation Fees in California 2010."
Read the story11 minAn Earthquake Early Warning System for California?
All Californians know they're vulnerable to the Big One, but we're way behind Japan —even Mexico — in developing an alert system. But 30 scientists, working on a shoestring budget, are developing ShakeAlert at the US Geological Service, Cal Tech and the University of California, Berkeley.
Read the story8 minKeystone Pipeline Dividing America in More Ways than One
Hillary Clinton's State Department is faced with a decision that has both political parties fighting among themselves over jobs, greenhouse gases, drinking water and energy security.
Read the story26 min
