Yeah, all our money went to war-looters, favored corporations, and Israel, Americans.
Actually, I could have titled the post something else; either way, they are doing both to you, American taxpayers.
"Bottlers fight push for federal water tax; Funds would fix public systems" by Alan Wirzbicki, Globe Correspondent | May 10, 2010
WASHINGTON — An effort in Congress to spend tens of billions of dollars to fix the nation’s aging water systems is facing stiff opposition from soda and bottled water companies, which are major beneficiaries of publicly owned supplies but are fighting a proposal to tax them to pay for the upgrades.
The chief sponsor of the legislation said the catastrophic Massachusetts Water Resources Authority rupture in Weston on May 1, which affected 2 million people in Greater Boston for three days, could reshape the debate in Washington by highlighting the urgent need to find new ways to pay for improved pipelines, pumping stations, and backup systems.
Never let an "opportunity" go to waste, huh, guy?
“We’re zeroing in on people who get a disproportionate benefit and rely on safe, secure water sources,’’ said Representative Earl Blumenauer, an Oregon Democrat who introduced legislation that would raise $10 billion annually — including $3.5 billion for drinking water systems — through a tax on bottlers and other water-dependent industries.
And YOU KNOW WHO THAT GETS PASSED ON TO, right, taxpayers?
The proposal has potentially far-reaching consequences because it would substantially increase the role of the federal government in financing repairs to municipal tap water systems, something advocates say is long overdue.
No, that is what we DO NOT NEED at this time!
The Feds already have enough power!
But (sigh) soda and bottled water companies — already battered by attacks from environmental groups over their plastic packaging — said the cost of upgrading such components as reservoirs and aqueducts should be shared more broadly....
Related: Massachusetts' New Nickel Tax
Think of that and the carbon tax coming out of the climate change bill as a set, Americans.
Bottlers use municipal water for many drinks, including filtered and distilled water. Company executives contend that they are modest water consumers compared with farms and factories....
I'm $ure well-connected partie$ will gather the appropriate exemption$.
There is little dispute that the country faces crumbling water systems in many cities. But while Congress has long recognized the problem, lawmakers have struggled to find a funding source as deficits balloon.
BUT wars, banks, and Israel always seem to get plenty of cash.
“No one wants to pay a fee, but at the same time how do we pay for it?’’ said Representative William D. Delahunt, Democrat of Quincy, who is a cosponsor of the legislation. “We can’t continue to borrow.’’
Unless it is for stimuloot, wars, bank loans to give back to banks(?) so taxpayers can pay interest on the bottom-line-boosting and bonuses, well-connected corporate intere$t$ that kick back campaign ca$h, or Israel.
Then the checkbook is wide open.
Late last week, Representative John F. Tierney, Democrat of Salem, joined Delahunt as a cosponsor. “It was only last year that Gloucester residents had to boil their water for weeks, which resulted in great cost to families and small businesses. The recent water main break in Weston only adds to the urgency to ensure that our nation’s infrastructure is improved and modernized,’’ he said.
So OPEN UP, America!
You know what is going in your mouth, right?
Water systems across the United States face about $335 billion in repairs and other work over the next 20 years, according to a survey by the Environmental Protection Agency....
And HERE YOU ARE SPENDING TRILLIONS over LIES in WARS, America!
Gee, you SHOULD HAVE BAILED OUT your WATER SYSTEMS rather than boosted bank profits and bonuses.
Tom Curtis, the deputy executive director of the American Water Works Association, which represents municipal tap water systems said most of the blame for the decrepit state of water infrastructure nationwide belongs to local politicians who have been reluctant to risk voter ire by raising water rates.
They TRULY ARE UNBELIEVABLE, aren't they, America (and world)?
Yeah, it is TAXPAYERS FAULT because they DIDN'T KICK IN ENOUGH DOUGH!!
I guess the TENS of MILLIONS of DOLLARS in MONTHLY INTEREST PAYMENTS to BANKS is a better use of tax loot, huh?
“Cellphone bills go up, cable TV goes up, gas goes up,’’ he said, while water rates have generally not gone up enough to cover needs. “No one wants to pay more.’’
WHY SHOULD the OVERBURDENED, OUT-of-WORK, FORECLOSED-UPON PUBLIC be required to SHOULDER MORE of the LOAD when the BANKS "made" BILLIONS and the RICHERS are DOING JUST FINE now?
Congress now provides about $800 million of the roughly $30 billion spent every year on clean water, Curtis said, with states and cities paying the rest. Massachusetts received about $70 million from Washington this year, but $52.2 million of that was one-time stimulus money specifically for drinking water projects.
Yeah, isn't government great kicking your own money back to you?
Scott Jordan, the state’s deputy secretary for capital finance and intergovernmental affairs, said Massachusetts was able to stretch those dollars by using them as collateral for water bonds.
UN-FLIPPING-REAL!!
Related: Municipal Bond Milking
Barney Frank Benefited From State Debts
Is THAT what you wanted your STIMULOOT DOLLARS DOING, Americans?
Yup, it is ALWAYS about DEBT and CUI BONO, 'ey?
Federal funds had helped underwrite $908 million in drinking water infrastructure statewide since the program’s inception, he said....
And the INTEREST will we have to PAY on that?
Blumenauer’s bill would also slightly raise tax rates for big companies and impose a tax on products designed to go down the drain — including toothpaste and toilet paper — to pay for waste-water system upgrades.
I wish THIS BILL would GO DOWN the DRAIN!
I'll FLUSH IT myself!!
The prospects of Blumenauer’s bill are uncertain. The Oregon representative acknowledged that persuading Congress to approve new taxes to help local water authorities would be an uphill battle.
“People aren’t rushing to embrace this in a tough election year. Everybody wants somebody else to pay for it,’’ he said. “Congress just has to face up to what it’s going to take to rebuild this country.’’When I think of the TRILLIONS upon TRILLIONS guys like him have wasted I come to the conclusion that THEY are NOT the ONES to FIX the PROBLEM!
They ARE the PROBLEM!!!!
--more--"
I've got to relieve myself as well, readers.
