If you subscribe to the Taxpayer’s Tab, or listen to NTU’s podcast “Speaking of Taxpayers”, you are well aware that the World Health Organization (WHO) was considering a worldwide tobacco tax proposal that would call for a minimum 70 percent rate on said products.
The story took a strange turn at the WHO’s meeting in Moscow…
The WHO’s Framework Convention on Tobacco Control delegates unanimously voted to ban the public from their meetings.
Washington Times writer Drew Johnson was on the front lines, attempting to attend the sessions. Despite earning a concession from WHO officials and security that media had not been banned (just the public), Johnson was physically removed – and witnessed another reporter being barred entry.
So, after banning the public from their global tax gathering, the WHO kicked the media out. Then, once the media was gone, the panel secretively approved the global tobacco tax scheme.
Keep in mind, we are simply talking about members of the press or the public being able to see and hear what is going on. They would not be allowed to actively participate in the debates and discussions.
If the WHO wants to push for significant policy changes in sovereign, free countries, they should expect to provide transparency to media and the people of those countries. Especially when taxpayers are supporting these organizations to the tune of “$20 million in public funds over the past two years,” according to Johnson.
Unfortunately it is not surprising to see the WHO take this approach. Though, it is startling that the vote to ban the public was unanimous. What makes these delegates think that is acceptable?
Johnson wrote on Monday that a former health director for Muammar Gaddafi and WHO delegate complained the public should not be present because, “We don’t know who these people are.” Well, that is a weak excuse. They are the people who pay your salary and they aren’t trying to tax you, you’re trying to tax them.
The American people and the businesses these policies would affect deserve to know how these taxes are being concocted, and by whom. If the UN and WHO are for free speech, they’ll agree and change course.