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horseydeucey t1_je31hr9 wrote

In 1936, Johnstown, Pa had a flood (not to be confused with the larger, more devastating 1889 Johnstown flood) that killed dozens and did about $43 million of property damage.
Pennsylvania started a tax to cover the damages. At the time it was 10% of all liquor sales.

As of 2019, the Johnstown Flood tax was still in effect - only it had grown to 18%. I don't know if it's in place today. I'm sure some Pennsylvanian knows.

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CrieDeCoeur t1_je39vnw wrote

In Canada they enacted a sales tax for the first time during WWII as a temporary measure to help pay for the war effort. Guess what? We still got the fucking sales tax.

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MooseTed t1_je3gcyr wrote

We have toll road in my state that was supposed to stop when the original build was paid for. The bill was paid off in 1993. Still got tolls...

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GreasyPeter t1_je57rqj wrote

This is extremely common and yet when old school conservatives warn about this type of thing everyone tells them they're off their rockers. I don't agree with a lot of what conservatives say, but this clearly is one slippery slope that gets greased regularly.

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Matthew_C1314 t1_je57clw wrote

Texas? If not, then we got the same problems. They built toll roads that are the only direct connections between a few minor cities. Supposed to stop once paid for, got paid off 15 years ago. But I still pay $6 to drive 9 miles with traffic.

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ivowtothee t1_je3k4ra wrote

Pretty sure it was income tax (even more $$) and it was for ww1

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TheRaphMan t1_je5rnhn wrote

In Quebec our taxes are supposed to go towards fixing our roads.

it doesn't fucking show

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DroolingIguana t1_je5bdfe wrote

We didn't get a federal sales tax in Canada until 1991.

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CrieDeCoeur t1_je5qch6 wrote

I meant Ontario provincial tax. There was no sales taxes at all prior

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E1520 t1_je636kj wrote

Most countries do. VAT, salestax, moms.

It's the same thing and started as temporary.

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Captain-Griffen t1_je66lxe wrote

It's a VAT. No one uses straight sales tax other than the USA because they're stupid. No, they aren't the same thing.

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Mitthrawnuruo t1_je7muus wrote

It is still there.

And a couple years ago, multiple towns in the area had to be evacuated.

Due to the risk of dams breaking

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dmr11 t1_je4ot7q wrote

Could legislators get votes by promising to repeal such an outdated tax policy, or does the tax money outweigh even that incentive?

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acebandaged t1_je4ydl2 wrote

Probably economic health of the state is more important, as it should be. People shouldn't go around getting rid of taxes, they're what allows the country to function.

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srentiln t1_je563eh wrote

While I agree that we shouldn't just go on a tax cutting spree to avoid economic harm, I think taxes that had a pre-defined conditional expiration as part of the original wording when passed should honor that condition.

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acebandaged t1_je6nd19 wrote

Why? They followed proper legislative processes, and voters haven't made it an issue.

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srentiln t1_je6rbcv wrote

Because those were the terms agreed to when it was passed, and voters were not given an opportunity to comment on changes to those terms. If this was a business contract, such a violation would render it void.

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Glute_Thighwalker t1_je6521u wrote

It is, but it’s just our general liquor tax now. Funds aren’t specifically ear marked for anything.

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