Big brother rape??
 

Judge allows Chicago-area sweetened beverage tax to begin

CHICAGO (AP) - A lawsuit challenging a penny-per-ounce tax on sweetened beverages sold in the Chicago area was dismissed Friday by a judge who also dissolved a temporary restraining order that had stopped it from being implemented.

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he tax originally was to take effect July 1 but the Illinois Retail Merchants Association sued, arguing the tax is unconstitutional and too vague. It is now is scheduled to go into effect Wednesday, according to Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle.

"We applaud today's decision by Judge (Daniel) Kubasiak granting our motion to dismiss the plaintiff's lawsuit challenging the sweetened beverage tax," Preckwinkle said in a statement after the ruling. "We believed all along that our ordinance was carefully drafted and met pertinent constitutional tests."

Cook County projected collecting about $67.5 million in revenue from the tax this year and more than $200 million for fiscal year 2018. Its delay resulted in layoff notices being sent to hundreds of county workers.

Illinois Retail Merchants Association president Rob Karr said his organization would consider its legal options, which include filing an appeal or an amended complaint. "We are disappointed by today's ruling," he said. "I can only imagine the outrage that is being felt by consumers throughout Cook County who may soon have to pay this tax."

The tax covers carbonated soft drinks, whether sweetened with sugar or a substitute such as aspartame, sports drinks and energy drinks. Fruit drinks also will be taxed, but 100 percent fruit juice is exempt.

On-demand, custom-sweetened beverages, such as those mixed by a server or barista, or a hand-made Frappuccino, aren't subject to the tax. Also exempt are purchases made with federal food stamp benefits through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, which are exempt from state and local sales taxes under federal law.

The burden of the tax would fall heavily on consumers. However, if retailers don't include it in purchases, they could be subject to a fine of $1,000 for the first offense, and $2,000 for the second and each subsequent offense.

Philadelphia approved a sugary beverages tax last year. Voters in San Francisco, Oakland and Albany, California, and Boulder, Colorado, approved similar taxes in November.

https://www.mail.com/news/politics/5...age-tax-t.html

2 liter of Coke here is $2 on sale and we pay 10 cents per plastic bag at checkout unless we bring our own.

No link? I want proof!!

Normal price here like $1.99 for Pepsi but they go on sale sometimes like 4 2-liters for $5 so $1.25 each. Plastic bag tax .07

I'd be fine with the tax if it actually went to like pay people to dig plastic out of landfills or make books for kids like "Hey Suzy don't drink 3 2-liters a day or you'll end up a fat ass like your mom when your older. :winkwink:

Not a fan of random taxes to pay bills though. Can't just keep creating taxes due to a lack of any form of a realistic budget on the table or paycuts for politicians. You can continue to create taxes but the reason more people continue to flee from Chicago (Cook County, also known as Crook County) as I could be outta Cook County in like a 20-30 minute drive. Cigarettes $11-$13 pack in Cook County, I drive 20 minutes and their just over $6 out the door.

Plastic bag tax hasn't generated what they expected as most are like fuck Chicago and bringing their own bags. On the cigarette taxes I haven't bought them in Cook County in years so just creating more sales over the border in other counties so fucking the local retailer as well.

Home - Can the Tax

Can the Tax

So this is how they plan to dig themselves out of debt?

Yeah taxes is a never ending cycle. The tax becomes cemented in costs , things go over budget again, need a new tax, etc. etc .

Stater Bros. Has a sale today 4 2 litres for 79 cents each but it's only root beer Sunkist & 7up. I rarely drink so no big deal for me.