A Water Tax? What's next, a tax on air?

I have a picture in my head of the room where New Jersey Senators deliberate. Instead of wood paneling I see balloons and lots of sparkling streamers. Instead of suits I see red noses and floppy shoes. The senators are loaded with whoopee cushions, buzzer rings and squirting flowers.

Overheard during today's debate:

We could raise tolls 1,000 percent!

Bah How about 10,000 percent!!!! (to raucous laughter)

I got a better one...we could tax greasy food to penalize the oil companies!

Here Here!!! (loud applause)

How about a tax on how many blades of grass in your lawn! (out of control laughter)

That will really stick it to the home owning suckers! And we can give a rebate to anyone who doesn't have a yard, grass or any plants. (rolling on the floor)

I got a better one, how about we tax water... (stop it stop it, I can't take it anymore)

From the Associated Press and Forbes 1 hour ago:

A Senate committee on Thursday debated a proposed constitutional amendment that would dedicate $150 million annually be raised from a proposed new water tax to farmland and open space preservation in the nation's most densely populated state.

Voters would decide whether to approve the amendment during the November election, if three-fifths of both legislative houses this year approve sending it to voters.

Sen. Bob Smith said the tax would charge 40 cents per 1,000 gallons of water, equating to $32 per year for the average household.

Maybe when the Barnum and Bailey Circus comes to town this week, we could keep them and load the legislature into the trucks to go to the next location....

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