The poor and middle-class will be hardest hit
Instead of harmful taxes that don’t make anyone healthier, public health advocates, government and industry should work together on meaningful steps that improve the health of individuals and communities.
A nickel here, a dime there is becoming a quarter here and a half-dollar there. When it comes to the essentials like food and beverages, these cost increases are painful. Higher grocery prices don’t hurt Seattle millionaires, but they crush middle-class and fixed-income families. Initiative 1634, the November ballot measure that would put an end to new local taxes on food and beverages, is the proactive step we need to protect our most vulnerable communities.