In Face Of Growing Soda Tax Movement, California Law May Pre-Empt More Measures
The beverage industry went to lawmakers in Sacramento with a proposal: Pass a bill banning soda and food taxes, and the industry would drop its November ballot initiative that would prevent local communities from raising taxes without approval from two-thirds of voters or an elected body. “They sent us a ransom note that they will drop this horrible ballot measure if we put a 12-year moratorium on local soda taxes,” said Scott Wiener, a state senator who represents San Francisco and parts of San Mateo County.
The New York Times:
California Banning Soda Taxes? A New Industry Strategy Is Stunning Some Lawmakers
For years, the soda industry had an ironclad strategy when a city wanted to enact a soda tax: Spend a lot of money, rally local businesses, and shoot it down. That strategy worked again and again, until it didn’t. In 2014, Berkeley, Calif., passed the nation’s first tax on sugary drinks, which have been linked to heart disease, obesity and tooth decay. Two years later, six communities, including three more cities in California, enacted similar bills. (O'Connor and Sanger-Katz, 6/27)
Capital Public Radio:
Soda Industry Effort To Raise Hurdle For Local Tax Increases Qualifies For California Ballot
An initiative that would make it harder for the state and local governments to raise taxes has qualified for California’s November ballot. ... The proposal would raise the threshold to approve general purpose local sales tax increases and extensions from a majority of voters to two-thirds. And it would make more state revenue increases subject to a two-thirds vote of the Legislature. (Adler, 6/27)