New Effort to Tax Soda in California

FRESNO, Calif. (KMJ) — California Democratic Assemblyman Richard Bloom is pushing for a tax on sugary soft drinks.

Bloom was behind similar legislation last year, which would have raised about $3.5 billion a year, by imposing a two-cent-per-ounce tax on sugar-sweetened beverages.

It was rejected by the Assembly Health Committee, with some Democrats joining Republicans in opposition.

Supporters of such a tax say too much sugar is the leading cause of diabetes.

However, opponents argue that diabetes and obesity can be caused by other sources of sugar, which wouldn’t be taxed the same.

Democratic Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez, who opposed Bloom’s previous effort, believes soda taxes are regressive, and unfairly target low-income families.

It’s unclear what the prospects are this time around.

Sugar-sweetened beverage taxes have failed at the local level, in the cities of Richmond, El Monte, and San Francisco.