Tag: Soda Tax

Despite overwhelming opposition to the tax, Pritzker still refuses to take a stand for Cook county residents

Despite calls to stand with the people of Cook County, Pritzker has repeatedly avoided taking action on the Soda Tax.

He has stood by while Toni Preckwinkle and the Chicago Democratic Machine have overreached to impose this money grab. Their tax-and-spend ways have not worked for Illinois and Cook County, but Pritzker continues to “think big” when it comes to tax hikes and spending.

The Chicago Sun-Times released an editorial Tuesday decrying the Soda Tax. Look at these excerpts from the Sun-Times:

“…We still think Preckwinkle and the County Board sold the tax to the public under false pretenses, saying it’s mostly about encouraging more healthful behavior when it’s mostly about raking in new revenue. And we think the tax puts an awful lot of local retailers at a significant competitive disadvantage.

“Try selling a 12-pack of Coke on one side of the county border for $1.44 more than your competitor sells it on the other side of the border. As a retailer, you lose not only that sale, but every other sale you might have made if the customer had walked into your store instead of your competitor’s.

“The unpopularity of the tax is no longer in doubt. If Bloomberg is running to the rescue, it’s because Preckwinkle and the commissioners who voted for the tax need rescuing. Almost seven of every 10 Cook County voters disapprove of the tax, according to a recent poll, and more than 8 of every 10 say they are less likely now to vote for Preckwinkle.”

Pritzker had a chance to stand up and fight for the overwhelming majority of people that oppose this tax, but he played political games instead.

Pritzker’s excuses have gone flat. He failed to take a stand for Cook County.

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While opposition grows, Pritzker refuses to act for taxpayers

With just one more day remaining until Cook County Commissioners hear a plan to repeal Toni Preckwinkle’s Soda Tax, it is increasingly clear that the county’s residents aren’t buying the Democrat’s spin on this outrageous tax.

Tax supporters claim it benefits public health, but an overwhelming majority of those paying the tax know that it is nothing more than another money grab.

Meanwhile, Pritzker remains on the sidelines in this debate, refusing to take action to protect the 87% of Cook County residents that oppose this latest instance of Chicago Democrat overreach.

From We Ask America’s new study:

• The ads warning people about the risks of consuming sugary beverages have either been widely seen and/or widely reported. A phenomenal 83.7 percent of the people taking the poll were aware of the health-related ads.
• Few people believe that the Beverage Tax was passed to address those health concerns. Voters remain skeptical that the Cook County Board members who voted for the Beverage Tax did so because of health concerns. A substantial 87.53 percent of those asked chose the generic “other reasons” as the root cause for the vote.Will he act on behalf of the people of Cook County, or stand idly by while Bloomberg, Preckwinkle, and Madigan impose their will.
• People who have seen the health-related ads are MORE likely to support repeal. While there is no correlation present in this poll suggesting that the ads have had a reverse effect on voters’ attitudes, the difference between those who HAVE seen the ads and those who have NOT seen them is indisputable. (download poll to see results).

Will Pritzker act on behalf of the people of Cook County, or stand idly by while Preckwinkle and Madigan impose their will?

One more day.

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We know Pritzker opposes legislation to repeal Soda Tax, but does he support another pending repeal plan?

For over a month, Cook County residents have been subjected to the absurd soda tax that Chicago Democrats have imposed on them.

J.B. Pritzker has repeatedly avoided taking any position that would benefit residents who have been paying the price for Toni Preckwinkle and the Cook County Machine’s money grab.

Similar taxes have been viewed as a cautionary tale, resulting in layoffs and reduced sales for small businesses.

When taxes like this have failed elsewhere, why do Toni Preckwinkle and her fellow Democrats continue to support them, especially when confronted with overwhelming disapproval from their constituents?

We know J.B. Pritzker opposes bipartisan legislation in Springfield to repeal the Soda Tax, he says “local governments should be given deference to make decisions over their own jurisdictions,” but where does Pritzker stand on the pendingCook County Board of Commissioners plan to repeal the soda tax?

So far, he’s been MIA and for good reason. The Cook County Democrats recently endorsed Pritzker, and his tacit approval of their disastrous soda tax is the price of their support.

Clearly, Pritzker and the Cook County Democratic Machine have no intention of standing up for taxpayers, especially when there is money to be made.

5 More days for Pritzker to take action.

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Between Juliana Stratton and Toni Preckwinkle, Pritzker’s Chicago ties to Soda Tax supporters run deep

With 6 more days until the Cook County Board of Commissioners hears a plan to repeal the disastrous Soda Tax, JB Pritzker and his allies continue to ignore the wishes of Cook County voters.

His support of the tax becomes more clear, however, when looking at the ties between his running mate Juliana Stratton and Soda Tax champion Toni Preckwinkle.

In a move that would make Mike Madigan proud, Preckwinkle publicly backed Stratton, her “protege,” to beat fellow Democrat Ken Dunkin to show “any wavering Democrats” that “the kind of prostitution Dunkin engaged with is not going to be rewarded.”

Clearly, having thoughts independent of Madigan and Preckwinkle is grounds to lose your support.

The Soda Tax is just another example of what the ousted Dunkin said of the Madigan Machine: “[Madigan] is the lone wolf out there and the people are suffering.”

Will Pritzker stand up to the Madigan-Preckwinkle alliance, or stay silent while the people suffer?

The clock is ticking.

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New poll shows that Cook County voters vehemently oppose Soda Tax, meanwhile Pritzker opposes legislation to repeal Soda Tax

“Voters are fighting back against the unpopular Cook County Soda Tax, but once again, J.B. Pritzker chose Madigan’s Chicago Machine over the people of Illinois. Pritzker opposes legislation to repeal the soda tax – that’s exactly why the Cook County Democrats endorsed him. Madigan and Preckwinkle need Pritzker to protect their power, and Pritzker has proven he will defend every tax hike they push.” – Illinois Republican Party Spokesman Aaron DeGroot

On September 13th, the Cook County Board of Commissioners is expected to hear a plan to repeal the controversial Soda Tax levied on the county’s residents.

Meanwhile, J.B. Pritzker continues to protect the Cook County Democrats’ wildly unpopular money grab by opposing legislation to repeal the soda tax.

A new poll out in the Chicago Sun-Times shows that despite vast amounts of outside money supporting the Soda Tax, majorities of Cook County voters continue to oppose the tax hike.

From the Chicago Sun-Times:

“The survey comes as former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg spends millions on TV ads to support the tax. The beverage industry is also airing its own commercials against the tax. The Cook County Board of Commissioners will meet on Sept. 13, when an anti-tax proposal is expected to be heard.

“For Commissioner Luis Arroyo Jr., D-Chicago, of 684 questioned, 53 percent said they were less likely to re-elect him, the poll found. For Commissioner John Daley, of 700 questioned, nearly 67 percent said they wouldn’t vote to re-elect. For Commissioner Stanley Moore, nearly 65 percent, of 712 questioned said they would not support his re-election. And for Commissioner Deborah Sims, of 718 questioned, 54.5 percent said they were less likely to re-elect.

“…A poll of 902 voters conducted last month found 68 percent of registered Cook County voters disapproved of Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle’s job performance. And 75 percent said they likely would not vote to re-elect Preckwinkle as Board president.”

Will Pritzker continue to defend his political friends?

As the already disastrous Soda Tax continues to be unpopular among Cook County voters, J.B. Pritzker continues to protect it.

Pritzker must still be too enamored with the Cook County Democratic Party endorsement to challenge a tax that 68% of the county’s voters disapproved of from the very beginning.

Or perhaps it’s his running mate Julianna Stratton, the protégé of Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle, that is forcing his hand in supporting the money grab tax.

Still, however,  Pritzker says “local governments should be given deference to make decisions over their own jurisdictions.”

Only one thing is for certain: Pritzker is unwilling to stand up for Illinois taxpayers when he and his political cronies stand to benefit.

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