5/27/14 The penny per ounce tax on sugar-sweetened beverages was soundly defeated
From Tim Barmlet, Illinois Beverage Association & the Chicago Tribune
Great news this morning! The penny per ounce tax on sugar-sweetened beverages was soundly defeated in the House Revenue Committee just a little while ago. Mark Denzler of the Illinois Manufacturers’ Association and Jeff Crabtree from Teamsters did a great job in providing opposition testimony. The final vote was 2 in favor, 7 opposed and 1 not voting.
Thanks to all the help from all of you. This was a great coalition effort!
Warm regards,
Tim Bramlet
Illinois Beverage Association
House Revenue Committee vote May 27, 2014, House Bill 397 with amendment #1:
Yes: Evans, Currie
No: Bradley, Zalewski, Mautino Harris, Sullivan, Sosnowski, McSweeney
Not voting: Turner
Tribune:
Soda tax defeated at Capitol – Would have added nearly $3 to case of pop
By Maura ZurickClout Street
11:32 a.m. CDT, May 27, 2014
SPRINGFIELD — A panel of House lawmakers today voted down a proposal to impose a tax of one penny per ounce of sugar-sweetened beverages, saying it would have cost consumers an extra $2.88 per case of soda.
Sponsoring Rep. Robyn Gabel, D-Evanston, said she hoped the tax would generate up to $600 million a year in a state grappling for new dollars while steering people away from unhealthy drinks linked to obesity and diabetes.
Only two members of the House Revenue and Finance Committee voted in favor of the bill. Seven opposed it.
“This is a middle-class regressive tax,” said Rep. John Bradley, the Marion Democrat who chairs the panel. “This really hurts working people.”
Rep. David Harris, R-Arlington Heights, questioned the disparity the bill would create by adding a tax of $2.88 a case of Coca-Cola with sugar than a soft drink without sugar.
But Gabel said the tax would act as a disincentive to buy sugary drinks and perhaps help save the general population and the state of Illinois from paying higher health-care costs.
Mark Denzler, Illinois Manufacturers Association, said the bill would cause job losses and contended some people would drive to neighboring states to buy soft drinks. A Teamsters official testified he feared the bill would cost the state jobs. mzurick@tribune.com