Manley Sponsors Legislation to Ban Future Soda Taxes

JOLIET, Ill. – In the wake of the disastrous soda tax that has been implemented in Cook County, state Rep. Natalie Manley, D-Joliet, sponsors legislation to prevent counties from implementing taxes on sugary beverages in the future.

“While we all want to encourage people to consume less soda and other sugary beverages, implementing a tax is not the way to go about doing this,” Manley said. “The tax in Cook County is poorly thought out and could cost the state millions of dollars in lost federal funding. This legislation will repeal the Cook County tax, as well as prevent other local governments from implanting a soda tax in the future.”

Manley is sponsoring House Bill 4083, which will immediately repeal the penny per ounce tax on sweetened beverages sold in Cook County. Drinks that fall under this category including some orange and vegetable juices, certain coffees and teas, some flavored waters and diet sodas. Manley’s measure would prevent any municipality or county from implementing a similar tax in the future.

“I am glad that Will County doesn’t have a tax on sweetened beverages and this legislation will help ensure that one never gets put in place,” Manley said. “A tax like this hurts middle class families that are trying to stretch every dollar to provide for their families. It also hurts job-creating businesses in our community as people leave the county to make their purchases elsewhere. I will continue to fight against short-sighted policies that disproportionately hurts working families in our community.”