Growls

In a “monkey see, monkey do” mentality, the Arlington County Board adopted a 2011 federal legislative package on Tuesday that included reiterating “their support for a measure by U.S. Rep. Jim Moran (D-8th) to impose a tax on single-use carry-out bags, such as those used in supermarkets or other retails outlets,” according to Scott McCaffrey’s report in today’s online Arlington Sun Gazette. McCaffrey went on to write:

“Board members for several years have championed the idea at the state level, but without authority from the General Assembly have been unable to move forward on it. A measure by Del. Adam Ebbin (D-49th) permitting localities to enact a 5-cents-per-bag tax died in a House of Delegates subcommittee this session.

“Getting a similar proposal through Congress would allow Arlington to circumvent the state government and restrictions under the Dillon Rule.

“Whether board members will have any more luck across the Potomac in Washington remains an open question. Moran introduced his measure in 2009, when Democrats controlled both the House and the Senate, but it didn’t pick up any cosponsors and died in the House Natural Resources Committee. It would have to be reintroduced this session in a chamber now controlled by Republicans.

“County officials privately acknowledge they don’t expect the federal legislation to gain any traction, but say they wanted to be on record in support of it.”

Once again, it’s a question of the panjandrums not listening to the people, but rather the politicians plundering the people. According to a poll released by the Center for Consumer Freedom today reported:

“A large majority of American consumers opposes efforts by big-government bureaucrats to regulate the type of bags they use to carry groceries home. These poll numbers arrive at a critical time when cash-strapped states and municipalities are trying to plug budget holes with burdensome plastic-bag taxes.

"According to the poll conducted by Opinion Research Corporation in early March, more than 65% of Americans “oppose proposals that seek to ban or place a tax on plastic bags.” (emphasis added)

Monkey see, monkey do? Exactly. An op-ed in last week’s Ellicott City Patch by Kim Lemmonds wonders if Howard County will be following Montgomery County’s bag tax proposal. Also last week, Brian Hughes reported in the Washington Examiner:

“Another jurisdiction in the Washington area is on the verge of charging residents for using paper and plastic bags. Montgomery County Executive Ike Leggett on Monday proposed a nickel tax on such items at retail locations.

“The proposal mirrors a similar law in the District, but unlike its neighbor, the bill applies to virtually all stores and not just those that sell food.

“Leggett previously vowed that he would not raise taxes on county residents -- after passing steep energy and cell phone tax hikes this year -- but told The Washington Examiner that because the charge is largely avoidable, he is not breaking that pledge.

"If you don't want to pay the fee, get a reusable bag," he said. "It's that simple. It's not revenue enhancement. It's not like it's filling county coffers."

Yessiree, monkey see, monkey do. Panjandrums. They’re all alike.

And if you think issues never die and go away, take a look at the other items in Arlington's 2011 federal priorities package. Remember the boathouse? It's not dead, yet.