OLYMPIA, Wash. - Having a burger, fries and Coke could soon help solve the state's budget woes.
As lawmakers learned, they'll have to make up for an estimated $2.6 billion deficit next year, one budget-writer is looking at taxing high-calorie foods.
"There's a lot of question as far as how do you tax fat foods, but it's something we definitely have to look at," said Senator Rodney Tom, D-Medina.
Senator Tom said taxing items such as soda, fast food or desserts could benefit the state in two ways - it would generate revenue, and cause consumers to eat more healthy food.
The idea did not go over very well at the lunch hour at Norma's Burgers in Olympia.
"I think whatever I eat is my business," said Mary Shaw of Rainier, who was picking up burgers and fries for her co-workers.
Norma's owner, Craig Forster, fears taxing his most popular menu items could force him to close. He said the economy has caused business to drop by 50 percent in the last two years.
"They're [customers] just not going to come in at all," said Forster, "They're going to find another source or they're just going to eat at home."
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