PITTSBURGH - An Allegheny County councilman wants to slash the new 10 percent drink tax by half and then eliminate the levy altogether.

But Republican Councilman Chuck McCullough acknowledged his proposal faces an uphill battle with the 15-member council, which has four Republicans.

McCullough said he hopes his proposal "will start a dialogue" to scale down the tax and, possibly, eliminate it.

"The power to tax is the power to destroy," said McCullough.

He wants to cut the tax rate to 5 percent by July 1 and repeal it in January because returns show the county will receive about $36 million to $40 million, far surpassing projections. Receipts show the county got more than $8 million from the taxes in the first quarter.

The county enacted the tax on poured alcoholic drinks this year to help pay its $30 million public transit subsidy, despite strong opposition from restaurateurs and bar owners.

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