Tag: Soda Tax

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ICYMI: Taxpayers Rejoice After Soda Tax Repeal, But Chicago Democrats Open Door To Other Tax Hikes

Will “tax fatigue” stop Dem gov candidates from endorsing additional tax hikes?

In a major grassroots victory for Cook County families and taxpayers, the Cook County Board voted yesterday to repeal Toni Preckwinkle’s dreaded Soda Tax. Preckwinkle’s money grab will end on December 1st, but Chicago Democrats have opened the door for new tax hikes, as one Democrat says, “all taxes are in play.”

Poll after poll after poll revealed the Soda Tax’s huge unpopularity, but those polls never pushed the Democrat candidates for governor into action as they sought to curry favor with the Chicago Machine. One candidate, J.B. Pritzker, even pushed the envelope and opposed Springfield legislation that would’ve stopped Chicago politicians from exporting their soda tax to cities and towns across Illinois. Additional tax hikes will most likely be as unpopular as the Soda Tax.

Voters will remember that the Democrat candidates for governor sat on their hands while Illinois families paid the price for Toni Preckwinkle’s lies, but will “tax fatigue” stop those same candidates from endorsing additional tax hikes in Cook County? After the Democrat candidates endorsed Mike Madigan’s 32% tax hike, they will all likely tow the line and stand with Preckwinkle as further taxes may be raised.

News outlets in Illinois and across the country have been following the Soda Tax closely and extensively covered yesterday’s repeal vote:

Fox News: Chicago’s soda tax repealed, in blow to ‘nanny-state crusade’

The Cook County Board voted Wednesday to repeal the Chicago-area county’s controversial soda tax, after a public backlash to the penny-per-ounce charge.

Low-tax advocates cheered the decision as a blow to the “nanny-state crusade.” Cook County, which includes Chicago, was the largest jurisdiction in the country with a soda tax.

USA Today: Soda tax goes flat in Chicago area’s Cook County after clash over health, taxes, sales

A Chicago-area soda tax went flat Wednesday, potentially putting the future of similar measures across the U.S. in jeopardy following a bitter clash between the soda industry, public officials and public health advocates.

A Cook County board committee voted 15-2 to repeal the penny-per-ounce tax after a backlash from store owners, drink companies and bottlers. Cook County includes Chicago and many suburban areas.

CBS Chicago: Cook County Board Overwhelmingly Votes to Repeal Soda Tax

Cook County’s soda tax has officially lost its fizzle. Commissioners voted Wednesday afternoon to repeal the widely unpopular tax, effective Dec. 1.

…Though conciliatory in tone, Preckwinkle never said she had made a mistake in backing the penny-an-ounce sweetened beverage tax.

The 15-2 vote reflected the overwhelming opposition the tax faced among Cook County residents. Recent polls showed more than 85 percent of people in the county were against the tax.

…Commissioner Sean Morrison led the repeal fight.

“It was the citizens who made this. The citizens who made the phone calls, who wrote the letters. Without their involvement, this likely would not have passed,” Morrison said.

WTTW: Cook County Soda Tax Repealed

Come December, Cook County shoppers and diners will no longer have to swallow and pay a much-reviled tax on sugary drinks after the county board voted Wednesday to repeal it.

The penny-an-ounce tax has only been in effect since August, but a groundswell of public frustration, buttressed by a “Can the Tax” campaign bankrolled by soda companies and retailers, quickly amassed to pressure politicians.

NBC Chicago: Cook County Soda Tax to Be Repealed

The official vote came [yesterday], but Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle is predicting tough cuts ahead without the soda tax revenue. NBC 5 political reporter Mary Ann Ahern reports.

ABC Chicago: Cook County Board votes to repeal sweetened beverage tax

The Chicago-area’s penny-per-ounce tax on soda and sweetened drinks was repealed Wednesday after a months long conflict that included a court battle and millions of dollars’ worth of television ads on both sides.

The Cook County Board voted 15-2 to end the tax starting December 1. The vote came just more than two months after the tax took effect August 2.

In a near unanimous vote, the Cook County Board repealed the unpopular sugary drink tax on Wednesday.

Associated Press: County officials vote to repeal Chicago-area soda tax

The Chicago-area’s penny-per-ounce tax on soda and sweetened drinks was repealed Wednesday after a monthslong conflict that included a court battle and millions of dollars’ worth of television ads on both sides.

The Cook County Board voted 15-2 to end the tax starting Dec. 1. The vote came just more than two months after the tax took effectAug. 2.

Chicago Sun-Times: Cook County Board repeals soda tax

The tax has been controversial since it was narrowly passed by the board. Preckwinkle cast the deciding vote when commissioners deadlocked on the measure.

…Commissioner Sean Morrison (R-Palos Park), who introduced the repeal motion, said now is the time to consider “appropriate fiscal solutions.” He was optimistic about the upcoming budget talks, saying “this is the time for a new fiscal course for Cook County.”

Chicago Tribune: Cook County retailers cheer soda tax repeal: ‘This was a nightmare’

Daniel Stein estimates Cook County’s sweetened beverage tax has cost his vending machine company about $75,000 so far, a figure that doesn’t even include lost sales.

The Dec. 1 repeal of the penny-per-ounce tax on sugar and artificially sweetened beverages likely will cost him more before it’s all over. He’ll again have to send technicians to his 850 or so vending machines in Cook County to adjust the price of products. But Stein feels only happiness and relief that the tax that’s consumed his life for months will soon go away.

“I don’t want to sound judgy but this whole thing has been kind of unfortunate. I’m just glad it’s almost over. … Closure is good,” said Stein, owner of Northbrook-based Mark Vend.

Daily Herald: Cook County soda tax dumped; Preckwinkle blames ‘tax fatigue’

…Preckwinkle has won both previous terms by wide margins, but her popularity has dipped in recent months due to her steadfast support of the tax, which she said had the dual purpose of increasing the health of residents and sparing the county from layoffs.

…The repeal effort in recent months became a nationally watched battle, with former New York mayor and billionaire businessman Michael Bloomberg spending $13 million to keep the tax in place and the beverage and restaurant industry spending millions to can it.

Elgin Courier-News: Elgin businesses welcome repeal of ‘agressive, regressive’ pop tax

Elgin-area business owners near the Kane County border celebrated the repeal Wednesday of Cook County’s short-lived tax on sweetened beverages.

“I am very pleased the commissioners — most of the commissioners — listened to their constituents over this arduous ordinance,” said David Bear, of the Bear Family McDonald’s franchise, which includes locations in Elgin, South Elgin and other places inside and outside Cook County.

Chicago Sun-Times: SWEET: Big Soda beats Bloomberg in Cook County tax fight

…The Cook County pop tax: Conceived Nov. 10, 2016, when Cook County Board members approved the one-cent-per-ounce Sweetened Beverage Tax. Born on Aug. 2, 2017, its effective date. Date of death was decreed by a 15-2 repeal vote on Wednesday. The tax dies at the end of the county fiscal year, midnight on Nov. 30.

Bloomberg is crusading for higher taxes on sugary drinks as a way to reduce the obesity epidemic in this nation, with allies including the American Heart Association, active in the Cook County fight.

…In 2017, however, Bloomberg’s team is hitting a rough patch when it comes to beverage taxes. Will the Cook County repeal give the beverage industry anti-tax drive momentum?

Washington Post: Chicago’s soda tax fizzled after 2 months. What does it mean for the anti-soda movement?

Less than two months after the country’s largest soda tax went into effect, embattled lawmakers in Cook County 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 is expected to vote to roll back the tax, effective as soon as Dec. 1.

Chicago Tribune: Commentary: Why I voted to keep Cook County’s soda tax

Unfortunately, repeal of the sweetened beverage tax also repeals the law that prohibited the raising of any taxes by Cook County until after 2020. This tax limitation covered property taxes, sales taxes and home-rule excise taxes. The repeal of the tax limitation means all taxes are in play.

Washington Examiner: Michael Bloomberg wasted $10 million trying to convince Chicago-area Cook County to keep its soda tax

Residents of Cook County, Ill., which encompasses Chicago are celebrating a much-needed win for consumer freedom on Wednesday, with the Board of Commissioners opting to repeal the wildly-unpopular sweetened beverage tax in a landslide vote of 15-2.

…But basing budget plans on a tax that applies to a narrow category of products, especially ones whose popularity is declining, is a poor approach to public finance. Lawmakers never know how consumers will react to such a tax putting serious question marks over their revenue projections.

Soda taxes are doubly objectionable because they have a disproportionate impact on the poor. Soda taxes necessarily hit low-income consumers the hardest because they spend a higher proportion of their budget on groceries than high-income families.

Forbes: Chicago-Area Soda Tax Repealed Despite Billionaire Bloomberg’s Ad Buys

The Cook County Board of Commissioners on Wednesday voted to repeal a controversial penny-per-ounce soda tax after a public outcry and intense lobbying by Chicago’s business community.

The vote comes despite a recent multi-million-dollar advertising blitz in the Chicago media market by billionaire businessman Michael Bloomberg to save the Cook County “sweetened beverage tax.” Bloomberg, while mayor of New York, was unsuccessful in banning super-sized sugary drinks in the city.

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Democrats Let Illinois Taxpayers Down

Gubernatorial candidates did nothing to protect taxpayers from Soda Tax overreach

“The Cook County Soda Tax was nothing but a lie from the very beginning. Even the tax’s most ardent supporter, Toni Preckwinkle, admitted that the tax was just for the money, and never really about public health. Thanks to the efforts of taxpayers across the county, Preckwinkle’s absurd money grab is finished.” – Illinois Republican Party Spokesman Aaron DeGroot

Illinois citizens won a major victory today as the Cook County Soda Tax has finally been repealed.

While the victory should be lauded as a grassroots effort, it should not be overlooked that the Democrats running for governor sat on their hands while residents paid the price for Toni Preckwinkle’s lies.

Trying to balance favor between Mike Madigan and Toni Preckwinkle, they refused to act on behalf of the Cook County taxpayers, leaving the citizens saddled with yet another Chicago Democrat tax hike.

Today’s repeal is a major blow to Preckwinkle and the rest of the Chicago Democrats’ tax-and-spend ideology. Now, they will have to work together with Cook County Republicans and find smarter ways to utilize the taxpayers’ money.

And as for the Democrats running for governor, Illinois voters will remember their inaction.

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Last Chance! Democrats Have One More Day To Act On Soda Tax

With the tax likely in it’s final hours, Democrats have one final chance to stand up for taxpayers

“The inaction we’ve seen from the Democrat candidates for governor is indicative of their governing philosophy: loudly exclaim their support for working families and taxpayers, but then bury their heads in the sand when push comes to shove. Now that Soda Tax repeal is imminent, the Democrats have one final chance to show that they care.” – Illinois Republican Party Spokesman Aaron DeGroot

With only a day remaining in the shelf life of Toni Preckwinkle’s Soda Tax, the Democrat candidates for governor continue to sit on their hands. After 72 days of an overreaching tax that disproportionately hurts poor and working families, the Democrats have taken no action to stand up for Illinois citizens.

Their unwillingness to take a stand is inexcusable, but should not be surprising. When candidates claim their ‘independence,’ even their fellow Democrats know they are lying.

It has been 72 days since the tax was enacted, and many more since its initial passing. Poll after poll has made it clear that Illinoisans oppose the Soda Tax. They made it clear they will not stand for Toni Preckwinkle’s deceit, and took action.

Meanwhile, the Democrats are nowhere to be seen, trying to tow the line between Mike Madigan and the rest of the Chicago Machine.

If the Democrat gubernatorial candidates will not stand up against this unfair tax, Illinois voters should fear what they would bring to Springfield.

Last chance, Democrats.

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Chicago Democrats’ Soda Tax Facing Its Final Hours

Toni Preckwinkle’s purposeful deception of taxpayers will lead to Soda Tax repeal tomorrow

“One thing is clear from the Soda Tax debacle: Democrats refuse to stand up for Illinois taxpayers. After months of deceiving citizens, overwhelming public opposition is leading to the repeal of the Soda Tax, forcing Chicago Democrats to do their job and work with Republicans to protect taxpayers and spend their money wisely.” – Illinois Republican Party Spokesman Aaron DeGroot

Despite her best efforts, Toni Preckwinkle’s Soda Tax is facing a veto-proof majority in favor of repeal tomorrow after months of overwhelming public opposition.

The short lived tax was sold to taxpayers as a way to protect public health, which Preckwinkle herself refuted when she explained the tax was “first and foremost, for the revenue.”

This stunning defeat for the Chicago Machine shows Preckwinkle and her cronies that voters will not sit idly by while the Democrats continue to tax their way out of the mess they’ve created.

Despite this victory, Illinois voters should take note of the inaction on the part of the Democratic candidates for governor. None of them took action to defend taxpayers from Preckwinkle’s overreach, and one even had the audacity to fundraise on the issue after sitting on his hands while taxpayers paid the price.

The Soda Tax may be on its way out, but Chicago Democrats should beware: voters will not tolerate their deceit.

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Soda Tax Opposition Reaching Fever Pitch

Less than a week to go, and the chorus of opposition to Preckwinkle’s failed Soda Tax continues to grow

“The audacity of Chicago Democrats who’ve claimed they ‘listened to their constituents’ after months of burying their heads in the sand is astounding. Illinoisans have been voicing their opposition to the Soda Tax before it even passed.” – ILGOP Spokesman Aaron DeGroot

It’s looking like Cook County Board of Commissioners President Toni Preckwinkle is losing her battle to dig into taxpayer’s pockets now that many of her loyal votes have turned on her.

In a new development, Jesus “Chuy” Garcia, Preckwinkle’s own floor leader, is now a supporter of repeal. Convenient that as soon as Mike Madigan opposes the tax, Garcia begins to “listen to his constituents” while Garcia’s candidate for governor Chris Kennedy fundraises on the repeal effort after months of inaction.

Illinois voters have been clamoring for the tax to be repealed since Toni Preckwinkle cast the deciding vote to put it in place, and now that repeal is inevitable, the Chicago Democrats are finally starting to open their eyes.

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Preckwinkle Comes Clean: Soda Tax All About The Money

After months of criticism, Chicago Democrats reveal the truth, but Dem gov candidates remain silent

“The worst kept secret in politics is out: Chicago Democrats enacted a tax so they could just keep spending. Toni Preckwinkle finally admits she’s been lying to residents of Cook County, lauding the supposed health benefits of the Soda Tax, when instead it was just another Chicago Democrat money-grab. The taxpayers have known the truth for a long time, yet the Democrat candidates for governor continue to keep quiet and disrespect taxpayers.” – Illinois Republican Party Spokesman Aaron DeGroot

As Cook County Board of Commissioners President Toni Preckwinkle is set to unveil her budget today, she revealed the truth behind the wildly unpopular Soda tax she enacted.

“‘We chose as a revenue generator a sweetened beverage tax…’ she said. ‘But first and foremost, for the revenue.'” – From the Chicago Sun-Times.

Despite a vocal majority calling for the tax to be repealed, Democrat candidates for governor continue their inaction, choosing to build support within the Chicago Machine rather than stand with the voters and taxpayers who are paying the price. Opposition has gotten so strong that voters are refusing to sign petitions to reelect the Democrat candidates.

With less than a week to go until the Soda Tax repeal hearing, it’s clear that Pritzker, Kennedy, and Biss have no interest in standing up for Illinois taxpayers.

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Deafening Silence from Democrat Governor Candidates Before Soda Tax Repeal Hearing

As Madigan and Dem legislators push for repeal, Pritzker, Kennedy, and Biss reject taxpayers, maintain silence

“The silence from the Democrat candidates for governor speaks volumes about their respect for taxpayers. Rather than offer relief after backing Madigan’s 32% tax hike, Pritzker, Kennedy, and Biss are keeping quiet on the unpopular soda tax in a desperate attempt to curry favor with Chicago Democrat insiders. Taxpayers won’t let the Democrats’ deafening silence drown out their cries for help.” – Illinois Republican Party Spokesman Aaron DeGroot

Days before the October 10th hearing of a plan to repeal the hugely unpopular soda tax, the Democrat candidates for governor – Pritzker, Kennedy, and Biss – are maintaining their silence in a desperate attempt to curry favor with Chicago Democrat insiders like soda tax-loving Toni Preckwinkle.

Poll after poll after poll has revealed that support for the soda tax will quickly sour relations with voters, but that hasn’t stopped the Democrat governor candidates who are eager to push their tax hike agenda.

Pritzker, Kennedy, and Biss will do anything for support from the Chicago Machine, even if it means keeping quiet as beleaguered Cook County taxpayers cry for help after being whacked with massive income, sales, and property tax hikes.

Even as Madigan and vulnerable House Democrats join Republicans in opening up a new front in the war against the soda tax, Pritzker, Kennedy, and Biss are staying the course and staying mum.

The silence from the Democrat candidates for governor speaks volumes about their respect for taxpayers; in that, they have none left.

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Chris Kennedy Boasts Endorsement From Soda Tax Supporter

Jesus ‘Chuy’ Garcia, staunch Preckwinkle ally and supporter of the Soda Tax, endorses Kennedy, tying him to the Chicago Democrat money-grab

“Garcia and Kennedy are a perfect pairing because they are both clearly out of touch with Illinois voters. Garcia’s support of the Soda Tax despite 87% of Cook County residents’ disapproval just goes to show that Chicago Democrats like Garcia and Kennedy are wrong for Illinois.” – Illinois Republican Party Spokesman Aaron DeGroot

On Thursday, Chris Kennedy held an event to highlight his endorsement from Jesus ‘Chuy’ Garcia, Toni Preckwinkle’s loyal floor leader on the Cook County Board of Commissioners.

Kennedy’s willingness to showcase support from someone who voted for the Soda Tax overwhelmingly opposed by his constituents makes it clear that he does not care about Illinois families and taxpayers.

Instead, Kennedy is spending his time courting more members of the Madigan Machine, trying to curry favor with Chicago insiders.

The people of Illinois are watching. Chris Kennedy should be worried if he continues to choose Chicago insiders over Illinois families and taxpayers.

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Soda Tax Backlash Grows as Repeal Vote Approaches

Chicago Democrats continue to turn a blind eye to the overwhelming opposition to Preckwinkle’s folly

Widely seen as a complete disaster, Toni Preckwinkle’s Soda Tax has squandered the confidence her constituents had in her. Citing public health as cover for her tax-and-spend policy, it remains to be seen if the soda tax has any effect on the community besides hurting Cook County families and small businesses. In fact, the tax has had a “disproportionate impact on people of low socioeconomic status.”

Meanwhile, Democrats running for Governor have yet to lift a finger for Cook County’s residents.  They appear to be just as clueless as Preckwinkle about what voters think of the soda tax, who was surprised that 7 in 10 county residents oppose the tax.

Now, with a repeal vote scheduled for next month, questions about the soda tax’s efficacy are rampant.

From the Chicago Tribune:

As political calculations go, this one backfired in a big way.

A botched rollout coupled with a huge public backlash fueled by general tax fatigue and the beverage industry’s well-funded pushback campaign has made the pop tax the biggest issue in county government in nearly a decade.

…While the tax was meant to apply to all sugar- and artificially sweetened beverages, pop drinkers demanded to know why diet beverages were hit. The rules also meant that some restaurants taxed free refills, which diners found particularly irksome.

In Philadelphia, a soda tax was applied to distributors, meaning it didn’t show up on store receipts. But here, county officials said the Illinois Department of Revenue ruled the pop tax had to be applied at the cash register. And so store owners opted to list the new tax on receipts, a reminder to consumers that the case of soda they’d purchased now cost an additional $2.88.

“From messaging to implementation to rollout, anything that could go wrong with this tax did go wrong,” said Commissioner John Fritchey, a Chicago Democrat and co-sponsor of the repeal ordinance.

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Madigan Opposes Pop Tax, Creates Divide Among Chicago Democrats

Now that it’s clear Mike Madigan opposes the Pop Tax, it remains to be seen if his designated choice for governor, J.B. Pritzker, will take action

While Toni Preckwinkle kicks the can down the road, pushing off a Pop Tax repeal plan until after a committee hearing next month, her political patron Mike Madigan is trying to kill it.

With his opposition, Chicago Democrats find themselves in a bind. If they take action on the Pop Tax now, it’s clear they are Madigan cronies simply following the leader. If they continue to bury their head in the sand, they ignore the 87% of Cook county residents who oppose the bill.

From the Chicago Tribune:

So tell us again, Cook County commissioners, that the beverage tax will make residents healthier. Tell us how adding more than a third to the price of a sugar-free sports drink protects our children. Tell us why that candy bar is OK.

Or tell us the truth, which is that you didn’t set out to reduce obesity, diabetes and heart disease — you set out to make $200 million a year without raising property taxes. That health shtick is a pretense plainly contradicted by that untaxed Reese’s sugar-and-fat bomb. Do you think taxpayers are stupid?

Think again.

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