[il-talk] we need your help

[Edward Birmingham]

To: ALL

From: John Gordon, Chairman

Subject: Call to Action

 

As most of you probably know by now senate bill 1584 has been introduced by
Senator Mattie Hunter.  It is also been introduced in the Illinois House as
HB2667, which has already been assigned to a committee which is supposed to
have its first hearing on Thursday March 12, 2015 in Springfield.  This
proposed legislation will increase the taxes on all sugar sweetened
beverages by one cent per ounce above and beyond what you already pay.

 

This will be handled much the same as the bottled water tax that you pay in
Chicago in that the distributor will pay the taxes and then pass that cost
on to you.  What this will mean to each of you is an additional $4.80 per
case tax on 20 ounce sugar sweetened beverages.

 

Illinois expects to generate approximately 600 million dollars per year to
help fight obesity.  If this was truly the case I am sure they would just
outlaw the sale of these beverages, however it is nothing more than a
revenue generating machine much like red light cameras.  This legislation
would not only have a negative impact on our businesses but would be a tax
assessed on all consumers of soft drinks in Illinois.

 

We are not positive yet on whether this bill will absolutely be called on
Thursday by the Sales and Other Taxes Subcommittee  and/or the Revenue &
Finance Committee but if you are able I would encourage you to attend and
make your voice heard.  Minimally I am requesting that all of you contact
your state senators and representatives and find out whether or not they
will support this legislation, please let them know how this legislation
would negatively impact your business and have your family and friends do
the same thing. 

 

The Committee and I will be contacting you soon to find out what you have
learned by making these phone calls.  Please do not depend on other people
to do the work for you as your voice is the only one that really counts.

 

Please share this information with anyone that you come in contact with,
especially vendors that may not be on e-mail.  If you are not sure who your
state senator is please call 217-782-2000 and they will direct you.  

 

 

 

Illinois Soda Tax Campaign Support Materials

Here is a script to be used when calling to oppose the tax;

"Hello, this is [Name]. I'm a [job title] with [company name or
organization]. I have been working at the [facility] in [location] for [#]
years. I live and am registered to vote in your district. 

 

It has come to my attention two members of the General Assembly have
introduced legislation to increase taxes on soda in the state. As a beverage
industry employee, I am worried this legislation could jeopardize my job and
the jobs of thousands of other [company name] employees in Illinois. 

 

I ask you to vote no on the soda tax and support your constituents who work
hard for the beverage industry. 

 

Please consider the impact this tax would have on my company and by
extension-my family,