Soda lobbyists to Philadelphia City Council: Repeal the tax
Soda lobbyists, sales people, and delivery drivers flooded the City Council caucus room before Council’s weekly meeting Thursday to complain they were suffering financially under the new sweetened-beverage tax.
It was the largest showing by industry representatives in City Hall since the 1.5-cent-per-ounce tax on sweetened and diet beverages passed in June. The tax went into effect in January. The city will make its first round of collections Monday.
Industry workers wearing jackets emblazoned with the logos of their beverage companies said that a month and a half in, they were already feeling the tax's impact, and asked Council members to consider amending or repealing the levy.
“All right, guys, here we go. Look alive,” said Lauren Craig, a senior manager of public affairs at the Coca-Cola Co., as the room started to fill in.
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