A group backed by the soda industry is seeking to bar cities and counties in Washington state from imposing their own taxes on sodas or other sweetened beverages.
The political committee, Yes! To Affordable Groceries, has submitted language for a proposed statewide initiative. They’ll need to turn in signatures from more than 259,000 registered voters by July 6th to qualify the measure for the November ballot.
The group’s financial muscle comes from the American Beverage Association, with key donors including The Coca-Cola Company. and PepsiCo.
A political coalition spreading the message includes the Joint Council of Teamsters Number 28, which represents beverage industry workers, the Washington Food Industry Association, and the Korean-American Grocer’s Association of Washington.
In June, Seattle joined a handful of cities nationwide to pass a tax on soda and other sugary beverages. The tax took effect earlier this year. (AP)
