Local State Senator Pushes Tax on Soda
Bill Monning Won’t Quit his California Soda Tax Effort
The Salinas Californian and Monterey County Weekly report:
State Senator Bill Monning
A state bill that would tax sugary drinks and use the money to campaign against childhood obesity has cleared a key committee. The Senate Committee on Governance and Finance passed Senate Bill 622 on a vote of 5 to 2.
The bill is authored by local state Sen. Bill Monning, D-Carmel, who represents Paso Robles and San Luis Obispo County.
“This is the first time this state committee has passed a bill that would place a tax on sugary drinks and the first step toward stemming the epidemic of childhood obesity,” Monning said in a news release.
By taxing sweetened beverages like soda, energy drinks and sweet teas, SB 622 would generate an estimated $2.6 billion a year to fund nutrition, phys ed, and other programs designed to prevent childhood obesity.
“By taxing these products we will be able to implement programs that will assist in preventing diseases among children and begin to address a public health crisis, whose rising health care costs affect all Californians.”
From State Senator Monning
Sugary drink tax clears pivotal committee
Today, the Senate Committee on Governance and Finance passed out Senate Bill (SB) 622 by Senator Bill Monning (D-Carmel), a bill that would tax sweetened beverages in order to fund childhood obesity prevention.
“This is the first time this state committee has passed a bill that would place a tax on sugary drinks and the first step toward stemming the epidemic of childhood obesity,” stated Senator Monning. “By taxing these products we will be able to implement programs that will assist in preventing diseases among children and begin to address a public health crisis, whose rising health care costs affect all Californians.”
SB 622 passed on a 5 to 2 vote. By collecting an excise tax of one penny ($0.01) per fluid ounce on specified beverages that have a high level of caloric sweeteners, such as sodas, energy drinks, sweet teas, and sports drinks distributed in California, SB 622 will generate funds to support the newly created Children’s Health Promotion Fund and finance programs statewide that will fight childhood obesity and prevention activities.
“Californian’s are becoming increasingly concerned about the obesity epidemic and its heavy burden on the well-being of Californians, especially our children. More than ever, California voters want solutions that not only hold the biggest contributor to the problem (sugary beverages) accountable, but that also raise funds to address the impact on our children. SB 622 does both of those and is a smart, fair-minded policy to protect our children, our state’s health and, ultimately our state budget,” said Dr. Harold Goldstein of the California Center for Public Health Advocacy.
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