March 28, 2024

Economix: Taxing Parents of Obese Children

The nudging war against obesity continues.

First there were proposals for a soda tax, but that was criticized for singling out a single product that can be consumed in moderation, when it’s really the habits surrounding eating and exercise in general that are the problem. Plus, obesity is sometimes caused by genetics.

Now comes a proposal to tax both the nature and nurture origins of obesity: parents.

From The St. Louis Post-Dispatch:

An Illinois lawmaker says parents who have obese children should lose their state tax deduction.

“It’s the parents’ responsibility that have obese kids,” said state Sen. Shane Cultra, R-Onarga. “Take the tax deduction away for parents that have obese kids.”

Cultra has not introduced legislation to deny parents the $2,000 standard tax deduction, but he floated the idea Tuesday, when lawmakers took a shot at solving the state’s obesity epidemic.

With one in five Illinois children classified as obese and 62 percent of the state’s adults considered overweight, health advocates are pushing a platter of diet solutions including trans fat bans and restricting junk food purchases on food stamps.

Article source: http://feeds.nytimes.com/click.phdo?i=092f0d949e59fc7cfd7fda202ebd468d

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