Controversial soda tax seen getting ax
Cook County, Ill., levy quickly drew boycott
Less than two months after the country’s largest soda tax went into effect, embattled lawmakers in Cook County, Illinois — the home of Chicago — are already poised to repeal it.
The tax has been plagued, in its very short life, by legal challenges, implementation glitches and a screeching, multimillion-dollar media battle between the soda industry and public health groups. On Tuesday, in recognition of growing public pressure, Cook County’s Board of Commissioners took the first step in rolling back the tax, effective as soon as Dec. 1.
It’s a major victory for Big Soda, which has spent millions on ad buys, lobbyists and political contributions in the county. It’s also the second blow this year to the soda tax movement, which suffered a defeat in Santa Fe in early May.
Advocates of that movement — which include a number of top public health groups and former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg — have advanced the taxes as a means to fight obesity while raising revenue for local jurisdictions.
But critics say the collapse of the Cook County tax is proof the national soda tax movement is losing its momentum.
“Consumer outrage is off the charts,” said David Goldenberg, a spokesman for the industry-funded Can the Tax Coalition. “People know this tax is all about raising revenue to fuel more county spending, and they resent the idea of a billionaire from New York City coming in and telling them what they should do here in Cook County.”
When the Cook Couny tax went into effect on Aug. 2, it was met with staunch public opposition. Consumers have organized highly visible boycotts, driving to nearby Indiana for groceries, and flooded their representatives with complaints.
Several Cook County commissioners who switched their votes in favor of repeal have cited that outrage.
“I listened to the community, the residents I represent, and there’s been a strong outcry,” Commissioner John Daley told the Chicago Tribune. “It’s a lot of taxes they’ve been hit with. It’s every economic group.”
The question now — for soda tax critics and supporters alike — is whether Cook County’s failed soda tax is a sign of things to come in other jurisdictions.