Live-chatting Philadelphia’s soda tax debate

    Update: Tom MacDonald send this report from City Hall at 1 p.m.

    Sources within Philadelphia City Council say a deal is in the works to fund the School District. A combination of a one-sent soda tax, a parking fee increase, real estate tax hike and money from the prison system would result in as much as $75 million for the schools if approved.

    The pact is seeking an eighth and ninth vote and is looking to Republican Councilman-at-large Frank Rizzo and Democratic 7th District Councilwoman Maria Quionnes- Sanchez to put them over the top

    Original report: Things are getting a ugly at City Hall, where Council is debating issuing a soda tax in Philadelphia to help support the School District. If you can’t swing by, then you can live chat with our partner, Philadelphia Weekly.

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    Reporter Matt Petrillo is at the hearing, along with our Tom MacDonald. Follow Matt’s updates on Twitter and look for the full story later from Tom.

    Disclosure: WHYY receives grant funds from the Philadelphia Department of Public Health to produce content and hold forums related to healthy living.  The department is an advocate of the soda tax.

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