Post Co. vs. Post Co.

http://www.futureofcapitalism.com/2010/03/jack-shafer-washington-post-maryland-alcohol-tax

Jack Shafer, employed by the Washington Post Company's Slate, calls out the Washington Post Company's Washington Post newspaper for what Mr. Shafer says is a news story that "cheerleads for a tax increase." The Post chalks up what it portrays as the Maryland legislature's stubborn and hard-hearted refusal to raise the alcohol tax to the power of the liquor lobby:

This week, advocates for the poor and mentally ill have made hours-long pleas to powerful legislative committees in Annapolis, contending that raising alcohol taxes by a dime per serving would restore much-needed funding for health-care programs for the poor, services for the developmentally disabled, and drug and alcohol dependency programs hit hard by budget cuts.

The answer they'll get is the same as always: No.

Mr. Shafer is one of only two of 57 Slate staffers and contributors who did not vote for Barack Obama in 2008 (he supported Libertarian Bob Barr), so he certainly has some credibility on the tax question. Now that David Broder has signaled it's okay to criticize your colleagues in public, it's open season. I've emailed the article's author for a response to the criticism and will update if he answers.

by Ira Stoll  |  Mar 12, 2010 at 3:46 pm Related Topics:  Press, Taxes receive the latest by email: subscribe to the free futureofcapitalism.com mailing list