In this minute-long audio slideshow aimed at our state’s lawmakers, Seattle high schooler Daniel Perlmutter makes a common-sense plea for taxing candy and soda to pay for kids' health care. It’s simple, he says.
“Candy … it’s fun, but it’s not food. Yet our tax laws treat candy like bananas, bread and milk. That’s preposterous!”
The Childhood Obesity Prevention Coalition, of which the Children’s Alliance is a member, estimates that ending the sales tax exemption on candy would raise more than $30 million a year in new revenue – and a penny-per-ounce tax on soda and other sugar-sweetened drinks would raise about $315 million annually.
The 2010 legislature passed a revenue package that includes candy, gum and soda. Read about results for kids in our session review "Standing Strong for Kids"
– Liz Gillespie