Yes, you read that right. The federal government is using our tax dollars to fund a study on raising our taxes.
US News reported:
There’s more proof that the administration is high on soda taxes as a way to curb obesity and fund healthcare reform. Two pro-free-market groups have discovered a $1 million stimulus grant to the University of Illinois to fund a study of the relationship between fat taxes and food consumption, diet quality, and obesity. Of concern is that the study results might be preordained.
According to the university’s press release, “Previous economic studies suggest that food prices do change consumption. However, the researchers want to determine if, for example, consumers will seek out another high-sugar drink such as Kool-Aid if, say, soda is too expensive. If they do, then a tax on soda may reduce soda consumption but will not necessarily reduce weight, improve diet quality, or reduce overall sugar intake.”
We’ll just overlook the fact that the stimulus money was supposed to go to saving and creating jobs. We all know that was never true anyway.
H/T Katherine
