Has anyone heard this?

[paintlady]

My friend in California called yesterday. She said that they just passed a law out there that taxes each cow and pig because they produce methane. She said that this was going to be nation wide. Has anyone else heard about this?

[7thswan]

I have heard of this, I think it was in some other country. Never thought it would pass here. But then thinking might be overrated.

[margo]

I heard something about that on Fox, didn't get the whole story.
I just shake my head over the foolishness these people come up with.

Seems somebody is always looking for a way to keep our country from thriving. They need a tour of a sewage treatment plant to get some balance but then....would they want to shut off all the toilets?

ah, I better just drop it...
M

[Harry Chickpea]

Governments will tax anything they think they can get away with. What fried me was when the town I lived in in Florida taxed the signal to my satellite tv. Just what gives them the right to tax something that has absolutely no effect on them?

[Txsteader]

I don't see anything on the 'net news sites about it.

[geo in mi]

http://www.cnbc.com/id/28380477

[jlxian]

My guess is California is desperate for income.

[kritter8888]

Im not sure about the taxes but I know that green peace has been putting up a big stink lately on how cattle is bad for the enviroment and they are protesting against places that use leather in there products. Im not sure how much weight they have in politics but I would watch out for them to try to infuence any decisions.

[Old Swampgirl]

Next thing you know they'll have a methane meter attached to everybody's butt that will be automatically monitored by the EPA. Monthly bills will be automatically mailed out, but if you call the phone number on the bottom of the bill, you'll get someone in Mumbai.

[jross]

Originally Posted by paintlady

My friend in California called yesterday. She said that they just passed a law out there that taxes each cow and pig because they produce methane. She said that this was going to be nation wide. Has anyone else heard about this?

I believe it and I think one should then get a tax credit for eating cows.

[Tracy Rimmer]

Rose, you're terrible!

[gone-a-milkin]

This has been refered to as the 'fart tax'.

I would love to see a link to where they say it has passed in CA.

[salmonslayer]

Next thing you know they'll have a methane meter attached to everybody's butt that will be automatically monitored by the EPA. Monthly bills will be automatically mailed out, but if you call the phone number on the bottom of the bill, you'll get someone in Mumbai.

Dont give them any ideas Old Swamp girl; I cant afford that kind of expense

[rambler]

I don't know much about California.....

Nationally EPA had preposals to regulate & tax these 'emissions' from livestock. It came to a rediculous amount per critter, like $50 a year or some such.

Mostly that all has been headed off, but there are tree huggers and EPA-types sitting in little office cubicals that still think this would be a good idea and are still pushing for it to come to be. These types are looking at much smaller regulations/ taxes now to start in small; once in place they can ramp up the programs with less fuss.

It's all for the environment you know.

These discussions often end up in right-wing vs left-wing debates, so it is hard to get good data on what is _actually_ going on in the EPA, California, etc. But the idea is there, and some people are still pushing for it.

--->Paul

[Harry Chickpea]

All that swampland in conservation should be taxed as well, it gives off more methane per acre than a herd of cows grazing. Just more idiocy from the eco-nuts.

[soulsurvivor]

Give em time. They probably have gas pills due to hit the shelves for use on farting livestock. And a terrible thought just crossed my mind that perhaps they already have this medication available for use on livestock?

I need an aspirin for this headache.

If they are going to tax hairy animals for the unproductive stink they make then they should start in Washington, DC.

[Bonnie L]

Originally Posted by Old Swampgirl

Next thing you know they'll have a methane meter attached to everybody's butt that will be automatically monitored by the EPA. Monthly bills will be automatically mailed out, but if you call the phone number on the bottom of the bill, you'll get someone in Mumbai.

That would keep me on my low-gluten, low-lactose diet just to avoid taxes!

[ninny]

Originally Posted by rambler

I don't know much about California.....

Nationally EPA had preposals to regulate & tax these 'emissions' from livestock. It came to a rediculous amount per critter, like $50 a year or some such.

Mostly that all has been headed off, but there are tree huggers and EPA-types sitting in little office cubicals that still think this would be a good idea and are still pushing for it to come to be. These types are looking at much smaller regulations/ taxes now to start in small; once in place they can ramp up the programs with less fuss.

It's all for the environment you know.

These discussions often end up in right-wing vs left-wing debates, so it is hard to get good data on what is _actually_ going on in the EPA, California, etc. But the idea is there, and some people are still pushing for it.

--->Paul

It's more like $120/yr. for each head of cattle. I don't remember what the price was on hogs/sheep.
I wonder if they, the EPA, think that taxing the "emissions" will make the livestock stop passing gas? If not, then what is the purpose of the tax, other than a source of revenue which is what we all know that it is anyway.

P.E.T.A. should love this tax because it will surely put a bunch of livestock owners/raisers out of business and that's what their ultimate goal is.



.

[Suburbman]

I'm fairly sure California passed no such law; I live there and would have heard it on the news. Furthermore, the story on the cnbc link above mentions the EPA which is federal not local to CA.

How about a "hot gaseous emission" tax on politicians -- we could pay off the deficit in no time!