DC is NEXT!!!

Originally posted by keithstg:

Originally posted by Got Balls?:
And DC should have no right to tax VA or MD people who work in the District, and pay their own income taxes in their state of residence.

DC does not tax VA or MD people who work in the District. [/QB]
Correct, and hence VA and MD folks should ban smoking in their own towns/cities/counties –where they pay taxes.

Originally posted by chimblysweep:
I'm sorry if some bars shut down, that's sad and it sucks. But it's even more sad that what is sustaining their business is people standing around killing themselves smoking. What's even sadder is that their smoking affects the rest of us. And what's most sad is that there's a social cost to all of this.

so, bars are open simply to cater to smokers?? i'm sure alcohol has nothing to do with bars staying open then, eh?

it's a bar for goodness sakes. . .

I don't know, I loved a recent show at the no-smoking DC9.

Do you mean it was a non-smoking show? Because the one and only time I was at DC9, the smoke was thick and nasty, and due to that I decided I'm not interested in going back very often. Have they changed their policy? (I can't see that happening.)

Originally posted by Juliaz3:

I don't know, I loved a recent show at the no-smoking DC9.

Do you mean it was a non-smoking show? Because the one and only time I was at DC9, the smoke was thick and nasty, and due to that I decided I'm not interested in going back very often. Have they changed their policy? (I can't see that happening.)

OOOPS, my bad. I meant The Warehouse, which is no smoking all the time. Sorry for the confusion.

Nor should they.

I was just playing devil's advocate. I'm ok with MD or VA residents NOT having a say in a DC smoking ban, just as I'm supportive of no commuter tax.

Originally posted by keithstg:

Originally posted by Got Balls?:
And DC should have no right to tax VA or MD people who work in the District, and pay their own income taxes in their state of residence.

DC does not tax VA or MD people who work in the District. [/QB]

Originally posted by pollard:
as long as we are legislating everything, can we outlaw talking at shows, it is a hazard to my mental health

<img src="http://www.websmileys.com/sm/happy/1219.gif" alt=" - " /> <img src="http://www.websmileys.com/sm/happy/143.gif" alt=" - " />

i just think the owners should decide. Seems to me that if its such a small population that actually smoke, then wouldnt a NON smoking bar be a huge hit. THEN, we wouldnt have to force everyone else to be non smoking. The truth is is WILL hurt business to ALL bars.
I stayed out in Tempe Arizona for a month last year and we went to Phoenix bars cause you could smoke in them.

I just dont see why the non smokers cant just make thier own bars. its really ridiculous.

Originally posted by Got Balls?:
supportive of no commuter tax.

Is there a commuter tax?

American taxes confuse the hell out of me. I didnt think there was any issue working out of your resident state?

There is currently no commuter tax in this metro area, but it was up for discussion a couple weeks ago. They threw it out.

Originally posted by Ball Girl:
There is currently no commuter tax in this metro area, but it was up for discussion a couple weeks ago. They threw it out.

I found this:

http://www.washtimes.com/metro/20031202-100819-6058r.htm

So there probably should be some commuter tax, but it should be paid by the other states, but the other states would never agree to it. I didnt realise that 70% of personal income tax earned in DC ended up being paid out of state. That is a pisser.

I would disagree. Income taxes are collected to use on services for the betterment of the residents. Why should someone have to pay income tax to a city/state in which they do not reside, and thus do not receive any of the benefits that the residents of that city/state do receive?

Originally posted by mark e smith:

Originally posted by Ball Girl:
There is currently no commuter tax in this metro area, but it was up for discussion a couple weeks ago. They threw it out.

I found this:

http://www.washtimes.com/metro/20031202-100819-6058r.htm

So there probably should be some commuter tax, but it should be paid by the other states, but the other states would never agree to it. I didnt realise that 70% of personal income tax earned in DC ended up being paid out of state. That is a pisser.

There's no commuter tax in DC, but it comes up again and again to help account for the large shortfalls of revenues to the city. Like other cities, there is a large number of folks who work here but live outside of the city limits (about 70% of the District's workforce).

The biggest problem DC faces, in my opinion, is the huge amount of non-taxed entities that work in and utilize the city (federal government, any international governments, etc). It's a significant revenue loss – 42% of DC real estate is federally owned and hence tax free; 11 % is owned by embassies, nonprofit groups and others exempted from taxation, city officials say. That's more than half of the commercial real estate in the city.

There have been commuter taxes been in other cities (such as New York). There's some form of commuter tax in 41 states because cities where people work have to pay for the services used by employees (police, fire, emergency, transportation infrastructure, etc). Commuter taxes are not uncommon, but there has been a ban instituted by Congress for D.C. only.

Taxes for commuters do not increase, by the way. The apportioning among the jurisdictions changes.

Originally posted by Got Balls?:
I would disagree. Income taxes are collected to use on services for the betterment of the residents. Why should someone have to pay income tax to a city/state in which they do not reside, and thus do not receive any of the benefits that the residents of that city/state do receive?

So even though you spend almost a third of your time in a city, you don't benefit from any of its government services? I am not saying that there should be taxes paid to the city, but I don't think the issue is so cut and dry.

The Norva has a big pit out back for smokers. They have a bar set up out there too. Many were still inside even in between sets. Most smokers just chain-smoked 'bout 3 cigs before heading back in for the show. I hear it's brutal out there in the winter months. Either they suck it up and don't smoke or embrace the cold.

Will a VA resident call for a Fairfax ambulance when he/she tumbles down the stairs at work? Will the Montgomery County Sherrif's dept send in a proportionate number of cops to its residents who work here when there's an emergency midday on a Wednesday?

If you work in DC, you spend probably 40% of your time here, using services for the betterment of your work life.

Originally posted by Got Balls?:
I would disagree. Income taxes are collected to use on services for the betterment of the residents. Why should someone have to pay income tax to a city/state in which they do not reside, and thus do not receive any of the benefits that the residents of that city/state do receive?

Originally posted by El Tee:
Either they suck it up and don't smoke or embrace the cold.

strange opinions coming from a smoker ;)

At least you would think some money would come in for transportation, you know road and rail that commuters use to actually get to their jobs. It could be used as an explanation for DC raods.

Why does everything have to be so extreme…if a bar wants to allow smoking then why not? They could generate revenue by charging "smokers bars" a monthy levy of $10,000 or something like that, but only allow 15% of bars smoking permits, seeing as some one came up with the magic number of smokers being 15% of the population. Just an idea from a simple northern boy…who's been a non-smoker for over 25 years. I wouldn't go anywhere near a non-smoking bar personally, but smokers should be given the opportunity to enjoy a pint and a smoke too.

I think they should allow smoking in the workplace though…so everytime some twat lights up all us non-smokers can go sit outside and do nothing for 20 minutes out of every hour. :D

I work 8.5 hours a day, lunches included. Subtract out vacation days and holidays, and I estimate I work 1938 hours of a possible 8760 hours of the year. Thus, that's 22% of my total time, not 40%. And I use the resources of a federally owned building, none of which comes from DC taxes.

But as a DC resident, I probably spend 90% of my total time in the District. Still, I don't agree with a commuter tax.

Originally posted by Bags:
Will a VA resident call for a Fairfax ambulance when he/she tumbles down the stairs at work? Will the Montgomery County Sherrif's dept send in a proportionate number of cops to its residents who work here when there's an emergency midday on a Wednesday?

If you work in DC, you spend probably 40% of your time here, using services for the betterment of your work life.

Originally posted by Got Balls?:
I would disagree. Income taxes are collected to use on services for the betterment of the residents. Why should someone have to pay income tax to a city/state in which they do not reside, and thus do not receive any of the benefits that the residents of that city/state do receive?

Originally posted by Bollocks:
They could generate revenue by charging "smokers bars" a monthy levy of $10,000 or something like that, but only allow 15% of bars smoking permits, seeing as some one came up with the magic number of smokers being 15% of the population.

Bingo. sounds like a great plan. I can see how people dont want to go to a bar and get all smoked out, but is it really necessary to have NO bars that you can smoke in? i just think thats a little harsh. Levying a tax and limiting the number seems to be a fair way to me. Although, passing a law is easier for the fat guys in charge, eh?