A recent survey commissioned by the American Heart Association and conducted by Gonzales Research & Media Services has revealed that a majority of Maryland voters, 63 percent to be precise, favor a proposed 2-cent tax on sugary drinks. This tax is part of a legislative effort known as the "For Our Kids Act," which is moving through the General Assembly. The WMAR2 News report showed notable support across political lines, with 70 percent of Democrats and 44 percent of Republicans backing the measure.
Designed to generate funds in the face of a $3 billion budget shortfall, lawmakers argue that the beverage tax could raise upwards of $500 million. These funds would aid state initiatives, such as funding free meals for public school students and providing quality childcare for low-income families. While the support seems strong for the tax, a poll also indicated that 67 percent of respondents viewed the tax as a "top issue" or an important one, as detailed by WMAR2 News, which echoes sentiments found in Gonzales's findings.
Advocates for the tax, leveraging data from a private poll conducted by the American Heart Association and shared with Maryland Matters, aimed at highlighting the public's willingness to support the tax if it ensured funding for pressing needs like free school meals or state child care subsidies. The proposed bill faced opposition from business owners at a hearing, who voiced their concerns that the tax, as reported by the Baltimore Sun, could harm families, workers, and small businesses.
