SPRINGFIELD, ILL. -- If every man, woman and child in Illinois were to drink 18 ounces of sugary beverages each day, state coffers could get an additional $1.4 billion ... that is if a new tax is approved.
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A new report calls for a two cent per ounce tax on sugar sweetened beverages in the state.
That one point four billion dollar figure likely isn't enough to get legislators in the cash-strapped state to vote for another tax increase.
We spoke to State Representative Jil Tracy about this possible tax.
She is not for it and says no one wants to pay more taxes.
Tracy says, "it just drives someone across the border to get their cigarettes and gasoline is what we found. And the alcohol we've done that for the capital plan. You have to make sure you're gaining. Right now we just need to create jobs in Illinois and that's how we gain."
The tax would be levied on regular soda, diet soda and other sugar-sweetened drinks.
A standard 12-ounce can of soda would cost 24 cents more if the tax were passed.
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