For many local business owners, the cost of expanding the bottle bill outweighs the benefits. Paul Barber, owner of the Flying Rhino Café in Worcester expressed his concern over the additional costs associated with expanding the bottle bill. Barber believes that expanding the bottle bill would force business owners and consumers to “bear additional costs [...]

A new study by Lehigh University suggests that obesity is a far more complex issue than Mayor Nutter has led on. The mayor has tried to justify previous attempts to pass a soda tax in Philadelphia by citing increasing obesity rates. However, the new study suggests that there are many factors contributing to obesity and [...]

Mayor Nutter’s refusal to accept CHOP funds may be an indication that he is ready to introduce a soda tax for the third time. In response to his decision, the mayor tweeted, “Taking money from Big Soda to fight obesity is like taking money from the NRA to fight guns. You can’t buy this City [...]

The City Council of Philadelphia reached a deal last night, but one that does not include the soda tax Mayor Nutter had proposed.

Marc Rayfield discussed the controversial issue of the soda-tax on KYW 1060 this week. Following Wednesday’s rally, City Council was expected to return to discussing the budget, which, if Mayor Nutter has his way, would include $100 million in new taxes.

Several are even already declaring his tax proposal dead, Philly.com’s Troy Graham, Jeff Shields, and Kristen Graham reported.

The “Council will resume a hearing on the tax proposals tomorrow morning and would likely have to make a decision by then to achieve final passage by June 23.”

Union members and politicians were not discouraged to come out and make their voices heard at Wednesday’s City Hall anti-soda tax rally, despite having faced the same challenge, and overcoming Nutter’s similar tax proposal only last year.

Many jobs in the city “depend on the health of the beverage industry.”

Four council members were slated to attend the event to show support for the cause, leaving Nutter with a more difficult time finding enough votes to pass the tax.