Judy L. Randall writes on SILive.com - “The proposed state tax on soda is nothing but a sweet cheat, a member of Staten Island’s Albany delegation railed yesterday.

“It’s up to parents to determine what their kids put in their mouths,” said state Sen. Diane Savino (D-North Shore/Brooklyn), contending the penny-per-ounce levy would hurt working families.
She also said there was no guarantee the revenue would be dedicated to efforts to curb childhood obesity.

“What are they calling it today?” Ms. Savino asked, rallying with more than 100 Teamsters at the Coca-Cola sales and distribution facility in Mariners Harbor. “A syrup tax? A soda tax? A sugar tax?

“What it is, is a bad tax that disproportionately impacts working families.”
A 12-ounce can of Coke, for example, would cost an additional 12 cents if the state Legislature enacts the tax being pushed by the administration of embattled Gov. David Paterson, which needs to plug a $9 billion deficit.

Tax proponents, including the city and state health commissioners, maintain that reducing consumption of sugary drinks like soda would reduce childhood obesity and diabetes. They also note Staten Island has the second-highest obesity rate in the state, with 65 percent of Islanders overweight.”

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