Soda tax lives, but at a lower rate
Philadelphia City Hall and political coverage from the Philadelphia Inquirer City Hall bureau.
Soda tax lives, but at a lower rate
Patrick Kerkstra
Heard in City Hall hears from sources close to budget talks that the Nutter administration is peddling a more modest version of its proposed tax on sugary drinks to City Council.
Instead of the two-cents-per-ounce tax originally proposed (24 cents per 12-oz can of Coke), the Nutter administration is now suggesting a half-cent-per-ounce tax instead (just 6 cents per can). Instead of the $77 million a year a larger tax would have generated, a half-cent-per-ounce tax would raise about $19 million.
Less clear is whether a tax that small would have the same anti-obesity effects Mayor Nutter has trumpeted as one of the key benefits of a tax on sugar sweetened beverages.
In any event, it seems the smaller tax is getting a better reception in Council than the 2-cent-per-ounce plan, but it is still too soon to say if it will be included in the city's budget this year.
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Comments (29)
How can the Mayor show his face in Washington if he can't deliver on the Soda Tax. The First Lady will not be pleased with her Boy Toy!— CrashTestCorzine- This tax is totally unfair to soda drinkers. What about all of the people who get coffee and put 2,3,4 sugars in it? Will they be taxed? How about all of the people who buy donuts every morning with icing on them? Will they be taxed? Targeting one specific group of food products for a tax has to be unconstitutional.— fischman
- I'm all for this tax. We should all drink fewer sugary drinks anyway, so as the old saying goes, tax things you want less of. I'd much rather have this tax than property taxes as well. There is a huge deficit so either cut jobs or raise taxes and this one is NOT that bad people.— lincolndrive
- Reverse bait and switch. Get excited about a huge 2cent/oz tax, so now we are supposed to swallow a smaller tax. Pennsylvania's Unfair Trade Practices and Consumer Protection Law (UTPCPL) makes it an unfair or deceptive act or practice to engage in a "bait and switch" - advertising goods or services with intent not to sell them as advertised, or advertising them with intent not to supply the reasonably expectable public demand. So no anti-obesity, just a tax.— Manny-Mann
- democrat thieves, one and all, as per usual— davey
- They are very "naieve" (ok, mentally-challenged) if they thought $77 million would actually be generated in the first place. The whole "plan" was flawed to begin with (tax it so much that people won't buy it, but it could still raise $77 MILLION...) Now, with a more modest proposal that will only generate around $19 Million (which is still not likely), they are still far short of what is needed. Yet, there is no proposal to end money-losing programs (such as the 10-year tax abatement), give up their taxpayer-funded cars and gas, etc. So, the only thing left, as usual, is to raise property taxes...— dee99999
Comment removed.- Start taxing the air too?— q2again
- Tax Anna Verna as her voice kills.— q2again
- Fischman: nope. try again.— p
- Fischman: nope. try again.— p
- We need the soda tax, and while we're at put a tax on McDonalds and other fast food outfits (ok,exempt salads, and such). If we're serious about obseity, it is the cheap burgers and fries that are as much at fault at the soda's. What about school lunches, cafeteria's and such. Actually it is City Council that we need to cut, their bloated staffs and do nothing council people. No car perks etc... Let them live within the same budgets that the rest of the struggling working class and seniors, and the disabled do. Get rid of the 10 year tax abatement, which for the most part only seems applicable to Center City and parts of University City where I live. No more tax abatements for any new housing projects that may be in the works.— transitactivistfromthepast
- Any tax on soda etc I will still buy it outside the city— George Hanna
I already started doing my shopping outside of the city and will continue to do so.- Soda tax to combat obesiity? Tax Mickey D for making kids fat? When the neighborhoods are safe enough for kids to go out and play instead of sitting playing video games,obesity won't be a problem. When parents nourish their children properly and they get the excercise they need,a can of soda and a cheesbruger won't matter. People got fat by eating out most of the time and leading sedentary lifestyles. Taxing soda will not make fat and lazy peole thin. Nutter just needs the money to pay undeserved bonuses to people like Arlene Ackerman and other incompentents taking the perks they think they deserve.— American Girl
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