Camden: Take the talk about grocery taxes with a grain of salt

In 2010 — also in the middle of a recession — the Legislature extended the sales tax to bottled water, soda and candy, which under some systems are classified as grocery items. Voters repealed those taxes that November, after a $15.7 million campaign funded chiefly by the American Beverage Association.

Last year, the Legislature extended the sales tax to bottled water as part of a package of taxes to help pay for more money for schools. It remains in effect, despite a nonbinding advisory vote in which 59 percent of voters said those taxes should be repealed.

These are all different from the tax on soda and some other sugary beverages that has been levied in Seattle, because that’s a tax per ounce, not a tax on the sale price. Coming up with a per-ounce levy for other grocery items might be difficult.

So as the soda industry tries to establish its bulwark against taxes like the one in place in Seattle — which is grandfathered in under the initiative so it won’t have to change — take the talk about taxes on the grocery cart with a grain of salt. Which is a grocery item.

Online debating

One of the problems of a crowded primary ballot is the problem it presents for people who like to factor debates into their selection process. With 29 candidates running for U.S. Senate, it would be almost impossible to find a time when all could show up, a stage big enough to hold them, and a format that would allow them to do more than a two-minute opening, one question for all to answer in a minute, and a two-minute closing.

TVW offers statewide candidates a chance to participate in a Video Voters’ Guide with a clip of up to five minutes, if they’re willing to come into the studio and take advantage of it. But not everyone does, and those who do aren’t debating, they’re making their own pitch which is part biography and part personal campaign platform.

Website EZ Debate thinks it has an answer, or at least part of one. It invited all 29 candidates to respond to six topics: gun control, immigration, foreign trade, health care costs, the greatest threat facing the nation and the most important issue facing the state.

As an incentive for candidates, the website has the voters’ guide statement and a “click here” button to make a campaign donation.

After a candidate responds, another candidate who has already responded can rebut his or her comments on any of the topics. It makes for lots of recorded comments — more than most voters can tolerate in single sitting — and some repetition. But so far, 10 of the 29 have recorded segments.

Also online

Is it possible to have an open house without a house? The State Department of Transportation thinks so.

It’s sponsoring an “online open house” to get residents’ thoughts on improvements to U.S. Highway 395 between Pasco and Spokane. The state set aside $15 million for safety improvements on the highway, and DOT wants some feedback on its plans with a survey.

They’ll be accepting drop-ins at https://395openhouse.com. No gift necessary. Provide your own hors d’oeuvres and libations.