Madmallard
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Billionaire Michael Bloomberg is prepared to spend millions of dollars more to make sure backers of Cook County's controversial soda pop tax don't suffer defeat in next year's elections, a spokesman for the former New York mayor said Monday.
"Mike has made a commitment that he will do everything necessary to ensure that the elected officials who stood up against the soda industry are re-elected," spokesman Howard Wolfson said. "And when I asked him what figure he had in mind for that purpose, his answer was, 'Whatever it takes.'"
Bloomberg's announcement comes after a new political action committee calling itself Citizens for a More Affordable Cook County on Thursday announced its formation and intent to back County Board candidates "who will make the county more affordable for working families and easier for small businesses to thrive." The group's treasurer is well-known Democratic attorney Michael Kasper, who counts among his clients the American Beverage Association.
And it comes two days before county commissioners opposed to the penny-an-ounce tax on sugar- and artificially sweetened beverages will introduce their repeal proposal before the County Board. On Tuesday, the Can the Tax Coalition backed by the beverage industry plans to stage a repeal rally at the Thompson Center Plaza, where they intend to make an issue of Bloomberg's involvement.
"Cook County commissioners have a choice when it comes to the future of the county's unfair, over-reaching and vastly unpopular beverage tax: they can stand with Cook County (Board) President Toni Preckwinkle and New York City billionaire Michael Bloomberg — or they can stand with county residents and businesses and repeal the tax," a news release promoting the rally stated.
Bloomberg to spend 'whatever it takes' to re-elect Cook County soda tax backers
"Mike has made a commitment that he will do everything necessary to ensure that the elected officials who stood up against the soda industry are re-elected," spokesman Howard Wolfson said. "And when I asked him what figure he had in mind for that purpose, his answer was, 'Whatever it takes.'"
Bloomberg's announcement comes after a new political action committee calling itself Citizens for a More Affordable Cook County on Thursday announced its formation and intent to back County Board candidates "who will make the county more affordable for working families and easier for small businesses to thrive." The group's treasurer is well-known Democratic attorney Michael Kasper, who counts among his clients the American Beverage Association.
And it comes two days before county commissioners opposed to the penny-an-ounce tax on sugar- and artificially sweetened beverages will introduce their repeal proposal before the County Board. On Tuesday, the Can the Tax Coalition backed by the beverage industry plans to stage a repeal rally at the Thompson Center Plaza, where they intend to make an issue of Bloomberg's involvement.
"Cook County commissioners have a choice when it comes to the future of the county's unfair, over-reaching and vastly unpopular beverage tax: they can stand with Cook County (Board) President Toni Preckwinkle and New York City billionaire Michael Bloomberg — or they can stand with county residents and businesses and repeal the tax," a news release promoting the rally stated.
Bloomberg to spend 'whatever it takes' to re-elect Cook County soda tax backers