Federalism is a system of government in which entities such as states or provinces share power with a national government.  In the United States, every state has their own constitutions that govern how their state government runs; they also delineate the rights of the people often echoing those found in the Bill of Rights while perhaps enumerating others.  

Being that there is no mention of any local government in the US Constitution, each state has their own rules regarding powers; Michigan is what is called a 'home rule cities' state which limits the degree of state interference in local affairs and delegates power from the state to local governments. That power is limited to specific fields, and subject to constant judicial interpretation.  Local governments, however, cannot pass ordinances and other rules that directly go against or nullify a state law in force.  

In the Michigan legislature, the senate yesterday passed a bill with bipartisan support (31-5) to prohibit communities from imposing an excise tax on food, pop or chewing gum.  This is noteworthy in that no Michigan local government has or has been in the process of raising taxes that way, this is more of a preventative measure due to the state's long term commitment to not taxing food items, and the problems coming about at other state's local governments who have reduced themselves to onerously taxing these commodities in order to raise revenue.  

After initially being considered with great controversy in New York City by Michael Bloomberg, the soda pop tax has come into fruition in Philadelphia, multiple California cities, Boulder, Seattle and populous Cook County in the Chicago metro region in Illinois.  These taxes are meant to be punitive to those who imbibe sugary drinks, making them spend money on less fattening, less diabetic-causing, drinks.  If they don't they pay the cost to the local government. 

In Philadelphia, their city council approved a 1.5-cents-per-ounce tax on 16 June 2016. As part of the compromise legislation that passed, the tax is also imposed on artificially sweetened beverages, such as diet soda-- which would seem to contradict the rationale for the tax. The law became effective on 1 January 2017, and retailers noted a 30-50% decrease in the sales of such beverage.  In March 2017, Pepsi laid off between 80 and 100 employees at three regional distribution plants in the Philadelphia area, while the American Beverage Association has a lawsuit claiming it violates the Tax Uniformity Clause of the state constitution.

In Cook County, the most populated jurisdiction to have such a tax, their board of commissioners passed a one cent per ounce tax this last November by one vote (9-8).  After challenges, it went into effect in August.  The tax includes the following beverages:  soda, sports drinks, flavored water, energy drinks, pre-made sweetened coffee and tea, fountain drinks, lemonade, and even things you might not expect.  

Due to the incredible backlash against the tax, the board is going to vote on whether to repeal the tax this coming week, with at least one commissioner who voted for it planning to vote against it.  "I have decided to vote to repeal the soda pop tax," Commissioner John Daley said in a phone interview. "It's creating tremendous dissension in every part of my district.  I've never seen such opposition to a tax."

And why not, Cook County's tax on sweetened beverages is more than five times higher than Illinois' state tax on beer.  With Chicago's already high combined sales tax rate of 10.25%, a regional 3% sales tax on soda pop already in place, and this new tax, a two liter bottle of soda can push $1 in just local taxes!

So cheer our state legislators on in their efforts to quell tax-happy local governments before they try to join these other tax-crazy communities in squeezing more money out of your lemonade, chocolate milk, and diet soda in the name of your health and safety.

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Yet according to this legislation they can tax bottled water?

Surprisingly Chicago politicians tucked their tails between their legs and are going to rescind the soda tax. 

 The Cook County Dental Association applauds the measure.

http://www.msn.com/en-us/money/markets/why-chicagos-soda-tax-fizzle...

Seven of the commissioners flipped their votes.  Hope it serves as the impetus for other states to follow Michigan's lead in preventing these banal local taxes from kicking in.  But there will be more new taxes to follow, more sublime and ridiculous than even this.  

Ya mean like....

Brad. One of my favorite non chocolate candies.

Sorry dianne, that was shinblind who commented on Cook County Dental Assoc. I say keep Government out of our lives. The Government has no business telling people what they can or cannot eat. Michelle Obama stuck her nose into school lunch programs and gummed up the works.


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