Pop Off: It Looks Like The Sugary Drinks Tax Is About To Die
By Stephen Gossett in News on Oct 6, 2017 6:50PM
Getty Images / Photo: Scott Olson
Many Chicagoans have been, shall we say, full-throated in their desire to kill the pop tax. And it looks they'll probably get the death knell for which they've been clamoring. Twelve Cook County Commissioners have signed on to nix the uber-controversial penny-per-ounce surcharge on sugary drinks, enough to override a potential veto from Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle, according to the Tribune.
The tide appeared to be heading toward a repeal when Commissioner John Daley announced on Thursday reversed course and said he would in fact vote to get rid of the tax, and the anti- faction now reportedly has the numbers they need. The Cook County Board Finance Committee will hold a hearing on Tuesday, Oct. 10, when it will presumably begin the death blow.
The Cook County soda pop tax is headed to repeal — with enough votes to withstand any veto by Board President Toni Preckwinkle, the lead sponsor said. https://t.co/TSdgISe7Xq pic.twitter.com/Aw98wiIG7C
— Chicago Tribune (@chicagotribune) October 6, 2017
Preckwinkle, the chief advocate for the tax, just laid out a budget proposal on Thursday, warning that programs and services could be on the chopping block without the revenue brought in by the tax.
Interests for and against the surcharge, which was just rolled out in August, have lobbied full-court as the unpopularity of the pop (not soda) tax has come into relief in recent months. A coalition funded in part by the American Beverage Association has spent more than 3 million in opposition ads, while former New York mayor Michael Bloomberg has likewise shoveled millions into efforts to keep the tax in place.
But in the end it may have just been one surcharge too many on tax-fatigued Chicagoans who seemed skeptical of after-the-fact efforts to tout the tax's health benefits, when the impetus was financial. A poll last month found that 85 percent wanted a repeal, according to the Tribune.
If indeed repealed, the tax would be gone on Dec. 1, according to the Trib. As we said when the pop tax was temporarily held up this summer, we're tempted to say raise a cola to celebrate, but you probably shouldn't.