NORWALK, Conn., USA – March 20, 2012 – With a recent flood of new regulations or proposals aimed at governing lifestyle choices such as smoking, eating or cellphone use, is the United States in danger of becoming a “nanny state”?

According to a new Harris Interactive/HealthDay poll released today, most Americans remain ambivalent about the issue, agreeing that policies that aim to protect public health and safety are sometimes necessary, but believing as well that adults should take responsibility for their own actions, and consequences for health.

Eighty-one percent of respondents agreed and 33 percent strongly agreed that laws aimed at protecting public safety — for example, regulations around safe driving or childhood vaccinations — are important to keeping Americans safe.

More than three-quarters also agreed that such initiatives do actually work. But on the other hand, almost two-thirds (61 percent) worried that these same laws might be too coercive, impeding individual freedoms.

“The public is somewhat schizophrenic about laws and policies that are intended to improve health and safety and reduce injuries and accidents,” said Humphrey Taylor, chairman of The Harris Poll. “Most people favor many regulations that protect them but they worry about our becoming a ‘nanny state.’”

The poll released today quizzed respondents on 14 different policies, laws and programs intended to improve health and safety. Some of the findings include:
- 91 percent supported a ban on texting while driving, while 74 percent “strongly” supported this initiative.
- 70 percent support, 43 percent strongly support banning talking on cellphones while driving.
- 78 percent support, 34 percent strongly support requiring eating establishments to reveal nutritional information on menus.
- 86 percent support, 55 percent strongly support requiring the regular round of childhood
vaccinations (mumps, measles, whooping cough, tuberculosis and polio).
- 80 percent support, 58 percent strongly support banning smoking in restaurants and public
places.
- 76 percent opposed, 43 percent strongly opposed employers citing obesity as a reason not to hire.
- 65 percent opposed, 34 percent strongly opposed employers not hiring smokers.
- 62 percent against, 37 percent strongly against the taxing of sugar-sweetened soft drinks.

And even as they supported many individual initiatives aimed at protecting the public good, 81 percent of respondents agreed that individuals should take responsibility for their own actions and “be free to make their own decisions, even if they suffer as a result.” One expert stressed that a balance must be struck between maintaining both public health and individual freedoms.The poll included 2,211 U.S adults over age 18 surveyed online between Feb. 27-29, 2012, by Harris Interactive, one of the world’s leading custom market research firms. HealthDay is a leading producer and syndicator of health news.

The complete findings of the newest joint Harris Interactive/HealthDay poll are available here. HealthDay’s news report is available here. Full data on the poll and its methodology are available at Harris Interactive.

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OLYMPIA — Prices of bottled water, soda pop and candy could climb this summer to help lift the state out of its deep budget hole.

Cigarettes and gasoline could be more costly, too, if a collection of new and higher taxes proposed by Gov. Chris Gregoire on Wednesday finds its way into law.

Click here to read original article: http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20100218/NEWS01/702189905&news01ad=1

One of the ideas of Washington State Governor Christine Gregoire is to tax bottled water. The bottled water tax is being called a sin tax, and her argument is that because nobody “needs” it, bottled water should be taxed. The proposed tax would be 1 cent per ounce, which she claims will make the state $134 million in additional taxes.

Click here to read original article: http://www.examiner.com/x-7460-Spokane-Headlines-Examiner~y2010m2d18-Washington-Governor-Christine-Gregoire-wants-to-tax-bottled-water

Higher taxes on things like bottled water, pop, cigarettes and candy are part of Gov. Chris Gregoire’s proposal to raise more than $600 million to help avoid large cuts to education and social services.

Gregoire’s plan, which also includes closing some tax loopholes, was released Wednesday.

Click here to read original article: http://blog.seattlepi.com/seattlepolitics/archives/194909.asp?from=blog_last3

Harbor Pacific Bottling, Inc., which my father started in 1957, is home to 45 hard-working employees, including many who have been with the company for decades. If the governor’s proposed excise tax on soda pop and bottled water is made into law, I may be forced to eliminate some of those good-paying jobs or potentially sell our business entirely.

Click here to read original article: http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20100227/OPINION03/702279987

Corwin Beverage Company, which our family started in 1941, is home to 115 hard-working employees, many of whom have been with the company for decades. Starting with five trucks and four products, our great-grandparents faced a lot of uncertainly to grow the business and make it strong. I’m proud to say we have never laid off a single employee in the company’s history, despite the difficult economy and the fact our sales are down as a result. We’ve made tough decisions to ensure employees have kept their jobs and benefits.

Click here to read original article: http://www.columbian.com/news/2010/feb/28/suspension-of-i-960-is-outrageous/

Gov. Christine Gregoire isn’t hearing much support these days from Bellevue for the tax on soda and bottled water she proposed to help close the state budget deficit.

That’s because the district is home to a “hulking big bottling plant,” to borrow a phrase used by Rep. Ross Hunter, of Medina.

Click here to read original article: http://www.pnwlocalnews.com/east_king/bel/news/85612402.html

SEATTLE – Washington state’s beverage industry claims its being unfairly singled out by the proposed 1-cent-per-ounce tax on carbonated drinks and bottled water.

And now industry insiders are warning such an excise tax could cost local jobs because the tax would be passed on to consumers, reducing sales.

Click here to read original article: http://www.komonews.com/news/local/85597842.html

Some left-leaning think tanks contend that tax increases will have the happy effect of stimulating economic growth. Oregonians may just have made their case for them. The Beaver State’s recent vote to boost taxes on business and the wealthy may well deliver a much-needed jolt – to the Idaho economy.

Read the full article here: http://www.thenewstribune.com/2010/02/25/1085566/washingtons-budget-plan-could.html