No Taxation On My Syrupy Sweet Carbonation

So annoying when syrupy sweet Large Sips cost more because they might make you fat! In Colorado, soda lovers are trying to repeal a tax on soft drinks.

In March 2010, a 2.9 percent tax on sodas and candy was put in place in Colorado in an effort to ease the budget crunch and take aim at rising obesity rates.

The repeal proposal being reviewed in the state’s House of Representatives keeps the tax in place on candy, however, as everyone knows that candy is the really bad one and soda is just kind of bad. Right?

Rep. David Balmer of Centennial touts the repeal as a way for families to save money.

“The tax is falling on families all across Colorado, and I don’t believe the legislature should be singling out certain beverages and taxing them,” Balmer said, pointing out that diet soda isn’t bad for you like sugary juice or sports drinks.

There are some big, fizzy players backing the proposal, including the Colorado Beverage Association, which represents vending-machine operators and the bottlers that deliver products from companies like The Coca-Cola Co. and Pepsico Inc.

As smoke follows fire, the Democrats want to keep the tax.

“When you’re trying to decide if we should put money into books and pencils for kids or subsidizing soda for kids, it’s a pretty easy call,” said Rep. Mark Ferrandino, D-Denver.

Colorado lawmakers want soda sales tax to fizzle [Bloomberg News]

Want more consumer news? Visit our parent organization, Consumer Reports, for the latest on scams, recalls, and other consumer issues.