Poll: Bag Tax is Dead, Anti-Baggers Undeterred

By Evan at July 31st, 2009.

That’s according to a new poll out from the insurance company PEMCO as reported in the Puget Sound Business Journal today:

More than 70 percent of Seattle residents oppose a proposed 20-cent tax on grocery bags, according to a poll by Pemco Insurance. Residents will vote on the proposed tax on Aug. 18.

Paul Guppy of the non-partisan Washington Policy Center came out with a recent study, showing that the bag tax is far from the most effective way (PDF) to reduce Seattle’s garbage output.

In fact, WPC’s analysis shows the tax does little towards accomplishing that goal (psst: don’t tell the social engineers they’re ever wrong, it makes them hyperventilate–but I bet they use a paper bag though, not plastic).

Enter the Seattle PI:

“Assuming the bag tax policy performs as supporters promise, it would reduce the yearly amount of garbage produced by Seattle by .0014 percent,” says the WPC analysis.

Rob Gala, spokesman for the Seattle Green Bag campaign, dismissed the WPC study.

“There’s no substantive analysis behind their claims,” he said.

And who, precisely, is Mr. Gala? Well, he’s the lead proponent’s right hand man–his day job is as an aide to Seattle Councilman Richard Conlin. But wait, he appears to be doubling as the anti-baggers press jockey. Of course, he’s probably being careful, and not campaigning on the public’s dime, right?

Councilman Conlin, call your office.

Tags: featured, Green Bag Campaign, Seattle Bag Tax