North Cook News

Cook County's recently imposed sweetened beverage tax has been such as disaster that even Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle’s die-hard constituents have lost confidence in her, according to a recent press release from the Illinois Republican Party.

"Citing public health as cover for her tax-and-spend policy, it remains to be seen if the soda tax has any effect on the community besides hurting Cook County families and small businesses," the release said. 

The GOP also suggested that Democratic gubernatorial candidates have turned a deaf ear to the controversy.

“They appear to be just as clueless as Preckwinkle about what voters think of the soda tax, who was surprised that 7 in 10 county residents oppose the tax,” the release said.

The press release also cited the Chicago Tribune, which said the tax has backfired on the Democrats.

“A botched rollout coupled with a huge public backlash fueled by general tax fatigue and the beverage industry's well-funded pushback campaign has made the pop tax the biggest issue in county government in nearly a decade,” the newspaper said.

A repeal vote on the tax is scheduled for October.