IL HR0148

House Resolution opposing all efforts at state or local levels to impose new taxes on beverages and food.

States that a sugar-sweetened beverage tax would raise grocery costs for Illinois families and eliminate jobs, with over 100,000 Illinois residents employed by the beverage industry.

Claims studies show obesity-related benefits from sugar-sweetened beverage taxes are negligible, citing West Virginia (obesity rate 35.6% despite tax since 1951) and Arkansas (obesity doubled to 34.5% since 1992 tax implementation).

Notes a proposed penny-per-ounce state tax would add 68 cents in taxes to a typical 99-cent two-liter bottle and would incentivize two-thirds of Illinois residents living within 40 minutes of other states to shop elsewhere.

Asserts beverage-related jobs generate $654 million in direct wages and $702 million in indirect wages in Illinois, which would be threatened by decreased sales from a soda tax.