Debate Over Soda Tax Continues
On Friday, Senator Bill Avery made his case for the soda tax
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On Friday, Senator Bill Avery made his case for the soda tax Video by kmtv.com
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Omaha, NE-- On Friday, soda took center stage in Lincoln as Senator Bill Avery made his case for taxing the drink.
In Omaha, people KMTV spoke with do not support the idea.
"They will just keep chipping away until they have all the food and everything," said soda consumer Shirley Stone.
Currently, Nebraska categorizes soda as food, which means consumers do not pay sales tax when they buy it at the store.
If LB 447 passes, the way soda is classified would change. Soda would be grouped with alcohol, tobacco and dietary supplements.
"The city talks about tax," said consumer Dee Uecker. "They have the restaurant tax. When is it going to stop? It's like taxing the air. I don't know."
Senator Avery said the $11 million a year generated from the soda tax would go to programs that promote healthy living.
On Friday, the senator made his case to the public, but people KMTV spoke with said it's just another excuse for the state to collect money.
"They don't need to tax anything else," said consumer Dave Bartlett. "They're already taxing enough. They don't need any more (taxes) for soda or restaurants."
The soda tax bill likely won't go anywhere for now.
Some senators are asking it be included in the Legislature's tax reform study.
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