Cook County Crooks

When I lived in New York and Bloomberg was the mayor, he tried to push a policy that would restrict the size of soft drinks. His policy almost passed, but was, thankfully, stopped at the last minute. Now, here in Cook County, Illinois, a law took effect August 2 that adds a one penny per ounce tax on all sugary beverages (pop, iced tea, etc). Because Cook County is in the fiscal hole yet again (are they ever NOT in the hole?), they had to find a way to scrape up some cash and putting a tax on soda pop is the way they plan to do that. It's bad enough that basic sales tax rates here are sky high (like 10%), but now there's yet another tax placed on the backs of people who can least afford them. After already being forced to pay seven cents per bag at the grocery store if you don't bring your own, now your bottle of Coke will be taxed too. Great. And Illinois politicians wonder why people are leaving the state. You get taxed like crazy here and yet the state remains in a perpetual state of debt. The bills never seem to get paid and you don't seem to get much for your money.