Bloomberg Throws Support Behind Soda Tax

The grand drama that is the journey of the would-be Philadelphia soda tax took another twisting turn recently. While visiting political luminaries have all had their say on the controversial tax proposed by Mayor Jim Kenney, ex-NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg is putting his (copious) money where his mouth is… and financially supporting the measure.

Millionaire and former NYC mayor Michael Bloomberg supports the soda tax.

The soda tax as proposed would impose a three-cent-per-ounce levy on all sugary drinks (soda, sweetened ice tea, sports drinks, and so on). Kenney proposed the measure as a means of funding pre-kindergarten education for all of Philadelphia’s young children, but anti-obesity / pro-health groups have jumped on the bandwagon as well in recent days.

Bloomberg, of course, was ultimately unsuccessful in New York with a ban on super-sized sodas being sold. He is a huge fan of the cause, however, and has shelled out millions on anti-soda legislation in Mexico and California. Now, he is financially supporting the pro-soda-tax push in the City of Brotherly Love. Philly.com reports that Bloomberg has given money to Philadelphians for a Fair Future (PFF), a group that supports the soda tax. PPF is launching an $825,000 campaign starting tomorrow to support the Kenney tax.

It is, naturally, not without opponents.

“Bringing in a New Yorker to force his personal agenda on Philadelphia families is the latest desperate act from an administration that admits it is losing in its attempts to foist this regressive tax on our city,” said Anthony Campisi, a spokesman for the Philadelphians Against the Grocery Tax Coalition, in a emailed statement Tuesday. “The people of New York rejected and resented Mayor Bloomberg’s overreaching policies when he was mayor, and now he’s trying to export them to Philadelphia families.”

Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton notoriously squared off on the topic of the soda tax when they visited Philadelphia on the campaign trail. Senator Sanders disapproves of the tax, saying that it disproportionally impacts the poor. Clinton, who is for the tax on the basis of its funding of education, accused Sanders of siding with the big soda companies who oppose the tax for greedy reasons.