A pair of congressional Democrats are pushing a tax on so-called virgin plastics, as the party continues to work on crafting its $3.5 trillion climate, education and healthcare package.
On Tuesday, Rep. Tom Suozzi of New York introduced legislation with Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island that would put a 20-cent-per-pound fee on the sale of new, or “virgin,” plastic used in single-use products. The fee, said Suozzi’s office in a press release, “would incentivize the use of recycled plastics and would hold the plastic industry accountable for its harm to the climate, oceans and minority and low-income communities.”
Whitehouse unveiled plastics-tax legislation in August. The proposal has received fierce pushback from the American Chemistry Council, whose members include DuPont DD, -1.68%, Dow DOW, -2.14% and Exxon Mobil XOM, -1.77%. Nearly 40 chief executives of the council’s member companies signed a Sept. 13 letter to congressional leaders calling the proposed tax “punitive, discriminatory and regressive” and arguing it would especially harm lower-income families.
In the last 10-plus years, traditional fossil-fuel companies have invested $89 billion in 210 chemical projects linked to America’s shale gas boom, according to the American Chemistry Council. More projects are planned, according to the trade group and energy-market associations. Petrochemicals make up 99% of all plastics.
Analysts at Beacon Policy Advisors noted Wednesday that the Senate Finance Committee is considering a plastics tax and “will weigh the revenue raising pros against the cons,” including opposition from the American Chemistry Council. The House Ways and Means Committee, however, didn’t include it in their bill.
Democrats are trying to hammer out the details of their $3.5 trillion bill. Meanwhile, progressive House Democrats continue to insist they won’t support a separate infrastructure bill unless the $3.5 trillion package moves ahead in tandem. Moderate Democratic senators oppose the larger measure’s price tag.
I work in the plastics industry. We make medical devices in Seaford. We use our own recycled plastic where we can, but many times you cannot use recycled plastic to manufacture the product. There is a difference between recycled plastic and virgin raw material and many times you have to use virgin. Manufacturers would be happy to use cheaper recycled material if they could, but the product dictates the material. You can once again expect costs to go up on products made from virgin. How much of your car’s interior is plastic? The next time you go to the Doctors office see how many plastic products there are. Or the grocery, etc etc.
Just another way to tax, tax, tax you.
I worked in the plastic mines of Tennessee back in the ’60’s. It was hard, almost impossible work and raw plastic deposits were hard to find and the veins ran out very quickly. We need to use recycled plastic as much as we can to prevent global climate change and deforestation from the mining operations.
-Joe Biden
Damn. Lol. I thought, what the hell is this, until I read it all. Hahaha. Good one
Joe last I heard you had plastic lung from working in the mines hard to believe you are still living, my brother died of it back in the eighties God rest his soul
Lets spend $$$$3.5 Trillion to get RID of Democrats from ALL govt !!!!!!
BIDEN and the DEMOCRATS stated they were not raising taxes on ones making under $400,000.
WHAT is this?
Not to mention the driving tax they are planning….if implemented, it would cost me $ 150 a month just to drive to work… these liberals are EVIL
Nothing is free. Anyone with a brain knows when you tax things like plastic, the end consumer is the one who bears the brunt of the increase. Same with the taxes on corporations and small businesses. It’s the fundamental difference between democrats and republicans.
Btw…most plastic is petroleum based. The cost is going up anyways due to Biden’s insistence of going back to being energy dependent. Add this on top of the cost of goods we’re already seeing now.