Massachusetts Senate Bill Could Ban Plastic Bags, Add Fees

Many Massachusetts Democrats accuse President Donald Trump of behaving like a king while performing the "hey, hey, ho, ho" ritual on Boston Common and across New Bedford's Route 18 overpass.

In reality, it is they who wish to foist a dictatorial agenda upon us, the common folk.

Take, for example, Senate bill S.3050, legislation that could face a vote in the Massachusetts Senate as soon as Wednesday.

Get our free mobile app

What MA Senate Bill S.3050 Would Do

The bill, among other things, would "ban single-use carryout plastic bags at all retailers and impose a 10-cent fee for recyclable paper bags," according to State House News Service. Remember how that worked out for Stop & Shop?

SHNS reported the bill would "only allow retailers to give customers reusable bags (ones that are made of machine-washable cloth, fabric, hemp or other non-plastic fibers, and have thread-stitched handles) or recycled paper carryout bags."

Impact on Consumers and Retailers

A paper bag would cost a retail customer 10 cents, which the retailer would split evenly with the Massachusetts government to fund a "new Environmental Plastics Protection Fund."

Sounds like the birth of a new taxpayer-funded government agency to me.

The proposed law would ban retailers from providing plastic utensils, straws, lids, cup sleeves, or takeout containers unless a customer specifically asks for them.

Imagine waiting 20 minutes in the drive-thru line for your daily Dunkin', only to find out when you pull away that you don't have a straw because you forgot to ask for one.

This insanity is already on the books in Rhode Island, though my experience has been that few, if any, drive-thru employees enforce it.

Springfield's WWLP-TV 22 reported, "Senators have tried to pass plastic bag policy before in 2019 and 2024 but never reached a vote, and, notably, the House Speaker has expressed hesitation on a statewide ban due to the impact it could have on small businesses."

Climate Funding and State Borrowing Plan

Another aspect of this king-sized bill authorizes the state to borrow $3.64 billion for climate resilience improvements and land conservation, among other things.

CBS Boston reported the legislation has the backing of Senate President Karen Spilka and Senate Ways and Means Committee Chairman Michael Rodrigues of Westport.

Ah, the life of a taxpayer in a nanny state where there are no kings. Just dictators and Democrats who know what's best for you.