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June 9, 2011

Letters

envelopeFund education with soft drink/bottled water tax

To the editor:

Ever since Gov. Corbett announced cuts in educational spending, there has been an outcry that those cuts should be eliminated and funding should continue as before.

There is a simple way to fund education at all levels in the state of Pennsylvania, which would be by imposing a 5 percent or 10 percent tax on soft drinks and a 5 percent tax on bottled water. Soft drinks have no nutritional value and contribute to obesity, which in turn contributes to diabetes and they also contribute to dental caries. Tap water is fine to drink, so bottled water is a luxury and people should be able to pay a tax for luxury items. Also, if enough legislators back the tax on Marcellus shale gas, then Gov. Corbett’s veto could be overridden.

A. Baumhammers

Clinical Professor

Department of Periodontics

School of Dental Medicine

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