A Call to Action for Kids
Sam Adams
I join Mayor Potter in urging you to support the passage of Senate Bill 1049, a measure to increase the tax on malt beverages for the first time in nearly 30 years. The revenue collected must be used to provide funding for prevention, education, rehabilitation, and law enforcement programs for alcohol or drug addiction.
I pledged in my campaign that I would only support an increase in taxes, or a new tax, if it supported education. Drug and alcohol use among Oregon eighth graders is nearly twice the national average. More than 17 percent of all the alcohol sold in Oregon is consumed by underage drinkers. When drugs and alcohol dominate a child or teen’s life, education plays a secondary, or more likely, an insignificant role. I considered not supporting this tax increase, but the health, well-being, and opportunity for education for our children is too important.
I proudly stretch my campaign pledge to include an increase on the taxes on malt beverages because it will help many of our children and families develop prosperous and meaningful lives.
Senate Bill 1049 has been written to protect Oregon’s economy of small microbreweries from the fee. We need the estimated $16 million/year in Multnomah County to effectively combat and treat drug and alcohol addiction. Our youth must face less risk and more opportunity.
I urge you to act now to help pass Senate Bill 1049. Please click here to link to Mayor Potter’s site where you can follow instructions and write to your legislators. SB 1049 has been stagnating in the Senate Revenue Committee since April; this campaign is breathing some life into it. Please join in and make a good thing happen.
Posted by Sam Adams on July 6, 2005
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