FACT: This is an EXCISE TAX on the SODA COMPANIES and NOT A TAX that YOU will pay. It is not like the bag tax or sales tax that you pay at the register. You can read this for yourself in "10 Myths about the Soda Tax" Mary Cheh's
docKnow the Facts about the Soda Tax!
Yes, this is an events blog but raising consciousness and healthy living are also very important to me.
The DC Budget will be finalized next Wednesday, May 26th and this issue speaks to me on many levels which is why I have compiled this information into a post so you can read more for yourself about the Healthy Schools Act and The Soda Tax.
FACT: The Healthy Schools Act has already been passed, what has yet to be determined is the budget, or the
"how to pay for it" part, which is why the Soda Tax was proposed.
If we don't have help from Soda Companies through The Soda Tax than that money will still have to come from somewhere, our own pockets and our own budget, likely through cutting other programs.
If you would rather the soda companies pay the tax than the residents of DC and our DC budget, which is already strapped, then please
SIGN THE PETITIONThe Budget is Finalized this Wednesday, I encourage you to CALL Today!
At-Large Council Members:Kwame Brown 202-724-8174
Vincent Gray 202-724-8032
FACT: MD and VA already levy taxed on soda, you probably just don't realize it. In fact, 33 of the States already levy taxes on soda. From Myth 9 in Cheh's
doc, MD at 6% and VA at 1.5%.
Learn the Facts about Mary Cheh's Healthy Schools Act which was already approved by the DC Council on May 4th
here!
ARTICLES IN THE PRESS:NY Times Article "The Battle Over Taxing Soda"
DCist "Hospital Mistakenly Listed Among Anti-Soda Tax Groups"
The Northwest Current print edition, great article on cover page "Feds visit Deal to fete Healthy Schools" Wed, May 19th Vol. XLIII No. 18 (now available online)
DETAILS: The proposal is asking that the 1 cent per ounce is placed "an excise tax levied ON LARGE DISTRIBUTORS (i.e. Coca-Cola Enterprises), not corner stores" or customers. The soda tax would be collected and paid by importers and distributors and would apply only to "sugar-sweetened beverages" which are canned or bottled and not on the syrups that go into fountain drinks. This also means that soda prices would not automatically go up and
if they did, it would be soda companies passing their new tax back on to us. Quotes from Cheh's
doc.
WHY I CARE: Please know that I am not posting this to be political, I am posting this because I believe in being conscious of what we put into our bodies and how we educate our children about the importance of eating well and being mindful of what is in the foods we eat and where it comes from. I want to support healthier diets in schools, minimize the use of corn syrup products and encourage connections with local farmers so that schools have local produce and food with life energy in it.
I am also writing this to highlight the fact that
in DC we are taxed on basic necessities such as Toilet Paper and Feminine Products while
Soda is considered a "food staple" in DC and is not taxed at all. If I had a chance to ask Tampax or Charmin pay that tax instead as an excise tax, I certainly would! I can't believe each time I go to buy these basics I get taxed. If I personally had to pay an extra tax on all bottled and canned beverages, which are bad for the environment, to support a better recycling program and/or healthier food for kids I would be happy to. It's about supporting a greater vision of mindfulness. Our kids deserve to have food that nourishes them and soda, which is basically a carbonated corn-syrup water, is not what I consider a basic food staple.
Share the FACTS and Stay Connected:Support Healthy Schools
homepage and petitionSupport Healthy Schools on
Facebook10 Myths-vs-Facts from Mary Cheh's documentTwitter & Facebook: login to your twitter or facebook and then go to
Support Healthy Schools and click on the icons on the bottom left to instantly share this message with your tweeps and friends "Keep the Supersized Soda Lobby out of DC schools! Sign petition & urge DC City Council to fund Healthy Schools Act: http://bit.ly/cWqJxo"
Closing Party at Long View Gallery
Independence Day Celebration at The National Archives
Closing Party at Civilian
Weekly Highlights Post on ReadysetDC
Free Events at The Studio Theatre
Family Friendly event at Wolf Trap
Learn more about Nutrition Hands On!
Highlights from Free in DC for Tonight & Tomorrow on the newly redesigned Borderstan site, looks great! View post here!
"The Art of Last Minuteness" 
Worn Magazine "Scotch Hop"
FACT: This is an EXCISE TAX on the SODA COMPANIES and NOT A TAX that YOU will pay. It is not like the bag tax or sales tax that you pay at the register. You can read this for yourself in "10 Myths about the Soda Tax" Mary Cheh's doc
Book Launch Party for "Consuming Choices" 
Sleeper Cell Arts & Crafts 2010
Avanti - The Orchestra of the Friday Morning Music Club
Art On View at Caos on F
On View at the Curator's Office
We Are Family Benefit Show!
The DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities hosts another Art Salon
Free in DC in Borderstan Free Events this Thurs - Saturday, June 19th
Free Community Cookout Event
Sulu DC: June Show
Next HOME: Friday, June 18th
Calling all performing artists!
"Temporary Urbanism" a Discussion at the
Art of the Blog with David Alpert of GreaterGreaterWashington.org, hosted by ReadysetDC
12th Annual Italian Street Festival!
