Under the guise of combating obesity, the state of New York is fixing to levy a "sin tax" on sugary beverages -- sodas and juice drinks.

New York is one of the most heavily taxed states in the nation. Aside from high income taxes at the state level, New York City and Yonkers residents pay an additional city tax. Sales taxes range from 7% to 8.875% -- just shy of 9%. Property owners outside New York City pay property tax that is equvialent to a mortgage payment in its own right. Corporations are levied a "franchise" at the state and city levels regardless of income. Gasoline can cost as much as 60 cents per gallon more in New York, than neighboring New Jersy, because of the differences in taxes. Despite what could arguably be considered the nation's heaviest tax burden, the state has been running horrendous deficits for years and is teetering on bankruptcy.

The proposed beverage tax is nothing more than a thinly veiled attempt to plug the state's hemmhoraging budget -- but on whose backs? The manufacturer and the purchaser of the beverage, as well as everyone involved in the supply chain.

Sales taxes are regressive, because they affect the lower income brackets the most. According to New Yorkers Against Unfair Taxes, "[t]he beverage industry supports 160,000 jobs in New York communities large and small, providing a direct economic benefit to the state economy of nearly $7 billion and an indirect benefit of $25 billion. A tax hike on beverages would put at risk good-paying jobs with good health benefits for many hard-working New Yorkers – hitting them in both their checkbook and their paycheck."

New York has suffered mass exodus on and off due to cost of living, taxes, and quality of life. New Yorkers do not need the state telling them what to drink and not to drink via tax structure. Big government is not the solution, it is the problem. It has become fasionable as of late for big government at all levels to interfere with the choices we make as to the food and beverage we consume, and how much we consume of it. This is the twin sister to all the regulations being passed in the name of "going green."

Go Rogue instead and support New Yorkers Against Unfair Taxes initiative to ensure this beverage tax does not pass.