Guest Commentary: In Defense of the Soda Tax
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Guest Commentary: In Defence force of the Soda Tax
In response to a Citizen commentary, the Executive Director of Public Citizens for Children and Youth argues that the soda tax is working, for kids and the metropolis
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Finance Director Rob Dubow's Defense of the Soda Taxation
Guest Commentary: In Defense of the Soda Tax
In response to a Citizen commentary, the Executive Director of Public Citizens for Children and Youth argues that the soda tax is working, for kids and the city
Jun. 22, 2018
After reading Larry Platt'southward commentary "Taxation Habit," I am reminded of something President Kennedy in one case said: "Too many people relish the comfort of stance without the discomfort of thought."
In that location'southward actually no other manner to explain how anyone can come to the conclusion that a non-discretionary increase in Philadelphia's portion of the country sales revenue enhancement—in other words, something everybody would be forced to pay—is somehow preferable than the soda taxation as a way to fund critically important instruction and poverty programs in our city.
Commencement, some context. Remember that the soda taxation is something that the drinkable manufacture chooses to pass on to customers. The Philadelphia police is a tax on distributors, not retailers. So the big soda companies—which make billions of dollars a twelvemonth—are choosing to laissez passer the tax to consumers rather than paying for it themselves, which they can certainly beget to do.
Mayor Kenney championed the tax and built a coalition that earned overwhelming back up in City Council. He continues to lead the fight considering the soda tax is working exactly equally intended, and the programs information technology supports are vital to Philadelphia's future.
Second, the soda tax gives consumers a selection, too: You lot merely accept to pay the taxation if you choose to buy sweetened beverages. H2o, juices, and other non-sweetened beverages are not subject field to the revenue enhancement, and oh by the mode, the beverage industry makes a ton of turn a profit by selling these beverages, too. By contrast, an expansion of the state sales taxation would force everybody to shoulder the tax burden.
And so it's no wonder that the beverage companies and their allies have spent tens of millions of dollars to fight the tax, filling the airwaves with misinformation to scare legislators and citizens akin.
Every bit we are reminded, facts are stubborn things, and these are the facts as outlined in a June xix alphabetic character from urban center Finance Director Rob Dubow: one) the tax has raised approximately $80 million for expanded pre-K programs, innovative Customs Schools, and for the Rebuild Initiative to revitalize rec centers, parks and libraries citywide; and 2) the tax revenues actually practice support these programs, and whatever suggestion to the contrary is a deliberate deception.
Mayor Kenney championed the taxation and built a coalition that earned overwhelming support in City Quango. He continues to lead the fight because the soda tax is working exactly as intended, and the programs information technology supports are vital to Philadelphia'south future. Killing the tax in favor of expanding the city portion of the sales tax is a harebrained idea that serves no one's interest; except of course the beverage industry, which explains why its allies are pushing this self-serving scheme in Harrisburg.
Only just considering the beverage industry keeps serving upwards one prevarication after another virtually the soda tax, it doesn't mean we have to swallow information technology.
The soda tax is making a positive difference in Philadelphia. Let'due south go along it that style.
Donna Cooper is Executive Managing director of Public Citizens for Children and Youth and the former Secretary of Policy and Planning for the Republic of Pennsylvania under Governor Ed Rendell.
Source: https://thephiladelphiacitizen.org/guest-commentary-in-defense-of-the-soda-tax/
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