Burke Sponsoring Legislation Outlawing Cook County Beverage Tax

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – State Rep. Kelly Burke, D-Evergreen Park, is sponsoring legislation to repeal the Cook County beverage tax.

“Many people enjoy drinking a cold soda or a glass of orange juice in the morning and I think it’s unfair to tax them on this everyday grocery item,” Burke said. “I believe this tax will do nothing except force more families to do their shopping outside of Cook County and cost our area jobs.”

Earlier this month, the Cook County beverage tax took effect.  It taxes all sweetened beverages including even diet sodas, fruit and vegetable juices, certain coffees and teas, flavored waters and sports drinks at the rate of one cent per ounce. Burke believes this is an unfair tax pushed through by Cook County politicians. The county’s tax raises the average cost of a 2-liter soda by 67 percent, and raises the average cost of a bottle of fruit juice or iced tea by 43 percent.

Burke’s House Bill 4083 would eliminate Cook County’s “penny-per-ounce” tax on beverages. Her measure would also prohibit any local government in Illinois from implementing such taxes in the future. Burke is encouraging residents to sign her petition to repeal Cook County’s beverage tax.

“I want to send a loud message to Cook County politicians that middle-class families are fed up with being nickel and dimed everywhere they turn,” Burke said. “I encourage those who want to see the beverage tax eliminated to contact my office and sign my petition in support of outlawing this unfair tax.”

For more information about this issue, or to add your name to a petition for the repeal of the beverage tax, please contact Burke’s constituent office at 708-425-0571 or email kburke@kellyburkerep36.org.